2023-05-21 23:35:24
F-16 is one of the most versatile air planes in the world.
F-16 air-to-air capabilities are very good, especially when using late AIM-120D AMRAAMs variante.
It has potent air-to-ship capabilities using the AGM-84 Harpoon (or AGM-119 Penguin) and especially AGM-158 LRASM which in combination with Neptune coastal batteries make an additional headache for the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
If the SCALP Naval and the Storm Shadow will be adapted on the F-16 this will considerably worsen the problems for the Russian forces and above all for the bases in Crimea.
These days, even more capable weapons like the JDAM, JSOW glide bomb and JASSM cruise missile are available too.
Difficulty will be in targeting for the Harpoon, Vipers radar not sufficient to employ Harpoon at its max range. Lack of AEW, ISR assets and other platforms to link data with will handicap these fighters, It Is likely that it will be complemented via datalink with NATO's ISR.
It can be said that just the F-15E, 4.5 gen and 5th fighters can parallel or beat it in versatility.
SEAD/DEAD is not carrying a HARM. For example F-35 has advanced electronic attack capabilities and a much better ESM suite to locate radars and SAMs but can’t do SEAD/DEAD operation (Initial operational capability for SEAD with the AGM-88G is planned for 2023). But can destroy them with GBUs at closer distance.
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