Ukrainian Air Force F-16

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Now that Ukraine has received its' first six F-16s it will be constructing decoy F-16s so I'm wondering if they've approached LM and/or the USAF for the relevant F-16 engineering-drawings to enable them to build externally identical decoys? Something else they could approach the USAF for is for any derelict early block F-16 airframes (Any redundant GF-16s) that could be cosmetically repaired so that they can be used a decoys to?
 
yahya said:
Seems that the UAF F-16's IFF differs from the RDAF MLU standard. Photos from sm.
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The two F-16s under the camo appear to be ADF F-16As unlike the others, which are clearly ex-Danish F-16A MLU.
I guess the ADF Vipers are non flying instructional airframes.
 
GTX said:
More details here:

https://www.twz.com/air/f-16-officially-in-ukrainian-service-self-protection-pods-included
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In regards to the ECM pods they will be equipped with no doubt due to the wreckage of an unexploded AA-13 Axehead that Ukraine obtained in February, 2023 these F-16s will be able to spoof any AA-13s fired at them, Another thing is since they will be equipped with AIM-120s (I wonder if the Ukrainians will get the long-range AIM-120D variant?) which have active seekers unlike the AA-10 Alamo's semi-active they will have a much better time dealing with Russian fighter jets (The Russians have been using the AA-12 Adder with its' active radar-seeker).
 
NMaude said:
In regards to the ECM pods they will be equipped with no doubt due to the wreckage of an unexploded AA-13 Axehead that Ukraine obtained in February, 2023 these F-16s will be able to spoof any AA-13s fired at them, Another thing is since they will be equipped with AIM-120s (I wonder if the Ukrainians will get the long-range AIM-120D variant?) which have active seekers unlike the AA-10 Alamo's semi-active they will have a much better time dealing with Russian fighter jets (The Russians have been using the AA-12 Adder with its' active radar-seeker).
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Whats the point of longe range Aim-120Ds? The radars limit should sit at below a 100km range for a armed fighter sized target like those hughe flankers. They would be mutch more needed for NASAMS than really anything else.
 
kqcke for you said:
Whats the point of longe range Aim-120Ds? The radars limit should sit at below a 100km range for a armed fighter sized target like those hughe flankers. They would be mutch more needed for NASAMS than really anything else.
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These F-16s will essentially function as airborne NASAMS batteries except for also launching CMs against the Russians. They could at most threaten Su-24s & Su-34s that are tasked with the dirty work; they can't threaten the Su-30s, Su-35s and Mig-31s and the West knew this when they handed over the jets to Ukraine.
 
kqcke for you said:
The radars limit should sit at below a 100km range for a armed fighter sized target like those hughe flankers.
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The Ukrainian F-16s won't be operating in isolation, for example Sweden has recently donated two Saab 340s modified as AWACS aircraft so the F-16s can be cued by off board sensors where to point and shoot AIM-120Ds, targets of course would be aircraft such as Su-30s, Su-34s, Su-35s and MiG-31s (The ones modified to carry the AS-24 Killjoy ALBM).

What would be nice is if the USN does have some E-2Cs in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB then refurbish them, train Ukrainian air and ground crews to operate them along with all needed spares, having those would enable the Ukrainian airforce to more effectively utilise their new F-16s.
 
snne said:
These F-16s will essentially function as airborne NASAMS batteries except for also launching CMs against the Russians. They could at most threaten Su-24s & Su-34s that are tasked with the dirty work; they can't threaten the Su-30s, Su-35s and Mig-31s and the West knew this when they handed over the jets to Ukraine.
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Well the F-16s could also be used for SEAD/ DEAD given the the relativ extensive suite of the danish fighter. To shoot down drones and CM they don't need them.
NMaude said:
The Ukrainian F-16s won't be operating in isolation, for example Sweden has recently donated two Saab 340s modified as AWACS aircraft so the F-16s can be cued by off board sensors where to point and shoot AIM-120Ds, targets of course would be aircraft such as Su-30s, Su-34s, Su-35s and MiG-31s (The ones modified to carry the AS-24 Killjoy ALBM).
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Still we would need to integreate them first. It would also put there only 2 awacs in a dangerous place
 
kqcke for you said:
Still we would need to integreate them first.
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Both the Saab 340s and F-16s should already be equipped with Link 16 datalink and JTIDS so that shouldn't be an issue.

kqcke for you said:
It would also put there only 2 awacs in a dangerous place
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Not really, the AWACS aircraft would be a large distance from hostile targets and they would almost certainly have their own armed escorts.
 
yahya said:
There are reports that Russia targeted the Mirgorod near Poltava and Kanatovo near Kirovograd airfields overnight, where the UAF F-16s are allegedly based.
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I mean, everybody saw this coming from lightyears away so this isn't exactly surprising.
 
NMaude said:
Both the Saab 340s and F-16s should already be equipped with Link 16 datalink and JTIDS so that shouldn't be an issue.
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No AIM-120D/D-3. I don't know or believe that any AM can carry or was ever cleared for them
 
kqcke for you said:
I don't know or believe that any AM can carry
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With the hardware and software upgrades done to these particular F-16s over the decades they should be able to fire the AIM-120D.

kqcke for you said:
or was ever cleared for them
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Now that is another question but if the US is serious about giving the Ukrainians a proper chance at fully utilising their new F-16s then they will approve the transfer of AIM-120Ds to Ukraine.
 
NMaude said:
With the hardware and software upgrades done to these particular F-16s over the decades they should be able to fire the AIM-120D.
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Thats the question. Do they have to software for it. Same question when some suggested the integration of leftover APG-68's..
NMaude said:
Now that is another question but if the US is serious about giving the Ukrainians a proper chance at fully utilising their new F-16s then they will approve the transfer of AIM-120Ds to Ukraine.
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Yeah tought i would guess this may not happen until a good amount of them are there.
 
yahya said:
You're right. New reports are surfacing that these UAF F-16A ADFs are in non-flyable condition, with opaque canopies. They are lacking the Vulcan cannon (LH side), as claimed on sm.
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The gun is installed on the side not visible in your pic. Here we can see the gun port on the other F-16ADF.
But yes, I wouldn't be suprised if these non-flyable ADFs don't have guns installed, it would be just dead weight.
 
A photo of an UAF ADF variant was circulating yesterday and I cannot find a good quality one to enhance the colors around the Vulcan gun port. Below is a low quality one that has surfaced during search on sm. Hard to say if the gun is out there or not.

photo_2024-08-05_22-27-47.jpg

Anyway, it seems that the Ukrainians are happy with the F-16 as the Ukrpost issued stamps sporting the jet dated yet 2023.

photo_2024-08-05_22-27-33.jpg
 
They seemed to have packed quite an extensive upgrade into what were originally rather "basic" F-16As. The weight figures published for the F-16AM don't seem to suggest much weight growth over the original F-16A however, which seems rather surprising when you consider the weight gain the F-16C accrued over the years. This was offset to some degree with the higher power GE-129 or PW-229 engines being introduced with the Block 50/52.
 
Colonial-Marine said:
They seemed to have packed quite an extensive upgrade into what were originally rather "basic" F-16As. The weight figures published for the F-16AM don't seem to suggest much weight growth over the original F-16A however, which seems rather surprising when you consider the weight gain the F-16C accrued over the years. This was offset to some degree with the higher power GE-129 or PW-229 engines being introduced with the Block 50/52.
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Published weight figures for the F-16AM might not be accurate.
They got lots of upgrades not only avionics wise but also various structural upgrades to keep them flying.
On the other hand, they retain the lighter -220 engines and lighter landing gear.

Deino said:
These maybe but not all
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I was replying to the post with F-16ADFs pictured.
Obviously the F-16AM are flying. It has been hard to miss. :D
 
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