Looking at our Vipers, they do bear a close resemblance to the
IDAF's F-16I SUFA.Furthermore, the dorsal spine is rumoured to be
from Elbit Systems too.
If you're talking about combat radius of a F-16D Blk 52+, it should
be in the region of these figures.(From LMTAS)
Performance: Maximum short-endurance speed: Mach 2.05 (1353 mph) at
40,000 feet. Maximum sustained speed Mach 1.89 (1247 mph) at 40,000
feet. Tactical radius (hi-lo-hi interdiction on internal fuel with
six 500-lb bombs) 360 miles. Maximum ferry range 2450 miles with maximum
external fuel (excluding 600gal. tanks or CFT's)
.
Quoting Tsahi Ben-Ami and Zvi Kreisler. both of the IDAF,
"Lockheed, which lost the last Israeli aircraft tender to
Boeing in 1994, said its single-engine F-16 aircraft could now fly
as far as the twin-engine F-15I offered by Boeing. Lockheed has
developed attachable fuel tanks that increased the range of the
F-16s radius of operations to 1,500 km (800 miles). Israeli pilots
tested the F-16 in the United States in 1999 fitted with the new
fuel tanks."
I would say that with the CFTs installed on our Vipers, we could
sustain combat operations with aerial refuelling support by our
KC-135s up to the Indian Ocean or beyond the Spratlys.Sounds
suitable for night maritime interdiction and air defence
umbrella.The Viper is capable of fast altitude penetration with
full external load while not compromising on its stabilty.SEAD and
anti-ship strike missions anyone?If the Blk52+ Vipers are
configured for SEAD and bombardment missions, we could have a
interceptor oriented, multi role for the NGF role, meaning the
Rafale would be ruled out, leaving the Typhoon and the F-15
Eagle.
