Difference between revisions of "F-16D Barak II"

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{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 
{{Specs-Avia-Flight}}
 
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.'' -->
−
''Describe how the aircraft behaves in the air. Speed, manoeuvrability, acceleration and allowable loads - these are the most important characteristics of the vehicle.''
+
The General Electric engine provides a very good TWR, and the Barak II is able to accelerate quite fast. The turning rate is good, but the airframe performance is inferior to the F-16A airframes since the Barak II has an increased weight. Additionally, carrying an air-to-ground payload will severely impact your flight performance. The turning rate is sufficient for most encounters.
  
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" width="70%"
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{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 
{{Specs-Avia-Armour}}
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
 
<!-- ''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.'' -->
−
''Examine the survivability of the aircraft. Note how vulnerable the structure is and how secure the pilot is, whether the fuel tanks are armoured, etc. Describe the armour, if there is any, and also mention the vulnerability of other critical aircraft systems.''
+
Similar to other top-tier aircraft, the Barak II doesn't have any significant armor. The airframe can take some hits from 20mm/30mm, but a good burst will easily rip control surfaces apart, destroy the engine, and knock out pilots. A direct hit from any missile will most likely destroy the plane entirely.  
  
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
 
=== Modifications and economy ===
Line 133: Line 133:
 
* 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, wing root-mounted (512 rpg)
 
* 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, wing root-mounted (512 rpg)
 
* 200 x countermeasures
 
* 200 x countermeasures
 +
 +
The 20mm Vulcan is an excellent weapon for air-to-air combat as it has favorable projectile velocity and is very easy to aim. However, the gun has a short spool up time so players must take this into account when preparing for a short burst. Plenty of countermeasures allow for longer time in battle and players also can be less concerned about running out of flares/chaff.
  
 
=== Suspended armament ===
 
=== Suspended armament ===
Line 219: Line 221:
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
== Usage in battles ==
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
 
<!-- ''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).'' -->
−
''Describe the tactics of playing in the aircraft, the features of using aircraft in a team and advice on tactics. Refrain from creating a "guide" - do not impose a single point of view, but instead, give the reader food for thought. Examine the most dangerous enemies and give recommendations on fighting them. If necessary, note the specifics of the game in different modes (AB, RB, SB).''
+
The Barak II provides a good platform for either committing to attacking other planes, destroying ground targets in GRB with the diverse payload options, or a mixture of both. A large amount of flares/chaff helps prolong the time the Barak II can spend in battle. Players must however keep in mind that the engine burns fuel very quickly when left on afterburner.
 +
 
 +
Like all other top-tier jets, maintaining situational awareness and knowing when to engage/disengage enemies is critical to survival. Especially in GRB, keep an eye out for enemy SPAA and be ready to take evasive maneuvers when your RWR is pinged or if you spot a missile.
 +
 
 +
When bringing the Barak II to GRB, the player can choose to either use conventional bombs or the "smart" GBU guided bombs. The four 2000lbs are very useful for taking out enemy tanks quickly when rushing, but the player again must be beware of ground SPAA and anti-air fire since the Barak II lacks armor. After bombs are expended, players can use their anti-air missiles against enemy planes if they choose to do so.
 +
 
 +
In ARB, the Barak II is best suited to plane-to-plane combat as it will benefit the team the most, and the Barak II's flight performance is significantly reduced when carrying bombs of any kind. It is better to not commit to close-range fights as you can easily be killed by other enemies while you are focused on eliminating someone, however the 20mm Vulcan makes downing planes quite easy if you need it. Make sure to utilize your AIM-9Ms as they are very effective at taking out enemy planes.  
  
 
=== Pros and cons ===
 
=== Pros and cons ===
−
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->
+
<!-- ''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".'' -->'''Pros:'''
−
''Summarise and briefly evaluate the vehicle in terms of its characteristics and combat effectiveness. Mark its pros and cons in the bulleted list. Try not to use more than 6 points for each of the characteristics. Avoid using categorical definitions such as "bad", "good" and the like - use substitutions with softer forms such as "inadequate" and "effective".''
 
  
−
'''Pros:'''
+
* Access to the deadly AIM-9M missiles
 +
* Excellent loadout variety for ground attack and Air to Air combat
 +
* Good flight performance and maneuverability in most situations
 +
* Large number of countermeasures for prolonged combat, allows for some leniency in countermeasure use
 +
* Engines provide very good TWR (thrust to weight ratio)
  
 
*
 
*
  
 
'''Cons:'''
 
'''Cons:'''
 +
 +
* Inferior flight performance to the normal F-16A airframe due to additional weight
 +
* Carrying bombs or external ground-strike payload negatively impacts flight performance
 +
* Engine consumes fuel very quickly when on WEP/afterburner
 +
* No armor of any kind, extremely vulnerable to ground and air munitions of any kind
 +
* Large engine gives off a significant heat signature for IR missiles, even when afterburner is off
 +
* Tier III and Tier IV modifications take some time to research for non-premium players
  
 
*
 
*
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As compensation for torpedoing Israel's fighter manufacture ambitions, the United States agreed to sell Israel additional F-16Cs and Ds. A significant number of them, all from the Block 30 model, had already been sold to Israel by that point, entering IAF service under the codename ''"Barak"'' (Lightning) in late 1987. In 1988, the US and Israel signed that new "compensation" deal - named "Peace Marble III" - delivering a total of 60 F-16s, all from Block 40, between 1991 and 1993. Half were F-16Cs and half were F-16Ds (single-seat and double-seat, respectively). In the IAF, these new Block 40 aircraft were named ''"Barak II"'' (Lightning II), correspondingly amending the name of the older Block 30 aircraft to ''"Barak I"'' (note: the IAF does not keep separate names for single- and double-seat variants of the F-16).
 
As compensation for torpedoing Israel's fighter manufacture ambitions, the United States agreed to sell Israel additional F-16Cs and Ds. A significant number of them, all from the Block 30 model, had already been sold to Israel by that point, entering IAF service under the codename ''"Barak"'' (Lightning) in late 1987. In 1988, the US and Israel signed that new "compensation" deal - named "Peace Marble III" - delivering a total of 60 F-16s, all from Block 40, between 1991 and 1993. Half were F-16Cs and half were F-16Ds (single-seat and double-seat, respectively). In the IAF, these new Block 40 aircraft were named ''"Barak II"'' (Lightning II), correspondingly amending the name of the older Block 30 aircraft to ''"Barak I"'' (note: the IAF does not keep separate names for single- and double-seat variants of the F-16).
  
−
The F-16C/D has several advantages over the F-16A/B, but the most important is the ability to mount a LITENING II pod, turning the plane into an all-weather operator. As Israeli engineers had done with all other combat planes purchased for the IAF in the last 50 years, they also updated most of the avionics and introduced many locally-manufactured, cutting-edge improvements. This included completely redone Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and in-helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD), among multiple other additions like the newest locally-manufactured IR missile the Python-4 and later the Active-Radar-Homing Rafael Derby Missile.
+
The F-16C/D has several advantages over the F-16A/B, but the most important is the ability to mount a LANTIRN pod, turning the plane into an all-weather operator. As Israeli engineers had done with all other combat planes purchased for the IAF in the last 50 years, they also updated most of the avionics and introduced many locally-manufactured, cutting-edge improvements. This included completely redone Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and in-helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD), among multiple other additions like the newest locally-manufactured IR missile the Python-4 and later the Active-Radar-Homing Rafael Derby Missile.
  
 
Barak II aircraft have taken part in almost every Israeli military campaign since their introduction, including the Second Lebanon War of 2006. Nevertheless, the changing needs of the Israeli Air Force have created a demand for a more dedicated fighter in the long-distance and precision-strike roles, resulting in the birth of the F-16I "Sufa". This heavily-modified F-16D Block 52 has since completely replaced the ''Barak'' in those roles, leaving it only with mid-altitude interception duties, which it still performs to this day. However, with the F-35 ''"Adir"'' now increasingly filling ''that'' role, there are ever-growing calls within the Israeli military community to finally retire the Barak II.
 
Barak II aircraft have taken part in almost every Israeli military campaign since their introduction, including the Second Lebanon War of 2006. Nevertheless, the changing needs of the Israeli Air Force have created a demand for a more dedicated fighter in the long-distance and precision-strike roles, resulting in the birth of the F-16I "Sufa". This heavily-modified F-16D Block 52 has since completely replaced the ''Barak'' in those roles, leaving it only with mid-altitude interception duties, which it still performs to this day. However, with the F-35 ''"Adir"'' now increasingly filling ''that'' role, there are ever-growing calls within the Israeli military community to finally retire the Barak II.
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* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
 
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.'' -->
−
''Links to the articles on the War Thunder Wiki that you think will be useful for the reader, for example:''
+
F-16 and its variants: [[F-16 (Family)|F-16 (Family) - War Thunder Wiki]]
  
−
* ''reference to the series of the aircraft;''
+
Israeli Aviation tech tree: [[:Category:Israel aircraft|Israel aircraft - War Thunder Wiki]]
−
* ''links to approximate analogues of other nations and research trees.''
 
  
 
== External links ==
 
== External links ==
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
<!-- ''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
−
* ''other literature.'' -->
+
* ''other literature.'' -->{{AirManufacturer General Dynamics}}
−
''Paste links to sources and external resources, such as:''
 
−
 
 
−
* ''topic on the official game forum;''
 
−
* ''other literature.''
 
−
 
 
−
{{AirManufacturer General Dynamics}}
 
 
{{Israel jet aircraft}}
 
{{Israel jet aircraft}}

Revision as of 18:49, 17 October 2023

Rank VI USA | Premium | Golden Eagles
A-10A Thunderbolt (Early)
F-16D Barak II
f_16d_block_40_barak_2.png
GarageImage F-16D Barak II.jpg
F-16D Barak II
Israel flag.png Israel
VIII Rank
Battle rating:
AB RB SB
13.7 13.7 13.7
Class:
Research:400 000 Specs-Card-Exp.png
Purchase:1 080 000 Specs-Card-Lion.png
Show in game

Description

During the late 1970s, Israel was designing a new jet fighter with ideas borrowed from previous aircraft they utilized. It ultimately culminated in the IAI Lavi, a fierce competitor to the F-16 Fighting Falcon in the export market. Unfortunately for Israel, the project increased in cost and was canceled for budgetary reasons. The US also had a part in the demise of the Lavi as they viewed the Lavi as a threat to the F-16’s export capability. As compensation, the US sent 24 F-16Ds and around 50 F-16Cs in 1987. A year later, under the Peace Marble III program, Israel ordered 30 F-16Cs and 30 F-16Ds. The F-16Ds received extensive modifications like refinished Multi-Function Displays and Heads-Up Displays.

Introduced in Update "Sons of Attila", the F-16D Block 40 Barak II is one of the most advanced F-16s in-game. For ground striking it can utilize the LANTIRN pod, making it an effective all-weather platform. It also has a variety of bombs to use including dumb bombs and smart bombs like the GBU-16. For air combat, the Barak II also has a variety of ordnance to use. The Barak II has access to the AIM-9M Sidewinder, an extremely capable infrared missile that boasts a unique IRCCM system and a smokeless motor. It can also carry AIM-7M Sparrows for long-range engagements. The F-16D Block 40 Barak II is a very versatile aircraft for both ground striking and air combat.

General info

Flight performance

Arrestor gear
Accelerates braking by grabbing the brake cable on the deck of the aircraft carrier
Air brakes
Allows you to dramatically reduce the flight speed by releasing special flaps
Max speed
at 11 582 m2 110 km/h
Turn time22 s
Max altitude15 240 m
EngineGeneral Electric F110-GE-100
Type
Cooling systemAir
Take-off weight17 t

The General Electric engine provides a very good TWR, and the Barak II is able to accelerate quite fast. The turning rate is good, but the airframe performance is inferior to the F-16A airframes since the Barak II has an increased weight. Additionally, carrying an air-to-ground payload will severely impact your flight performance. The turning rate is sufficient for most encounters.

Characteristics Max speed
(km/h at _,___ m) 		Max altitude
(metres) 		Turn time
(seconds) 		Rate of climb
(metres/second) 		Take-off run
(metres)
AB RB AB RB AB RB
Stock ___ ___ 15240 __._ __._ __._ __._ ___
Upgraded ___ ___ __._ __._ __._ __._

Details

Features
Combat flaps Take-off flaps Landing flaps Air brakes Arrestor gear Drogue chute
X ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ X
Limits
Wings (km/h) Gear (km/h) Flaps (km/h) Max Static G
Combat Take-off Landing + -
1,555 482 - 470 463 ~__ ~__
Optimal velocities (km/h)
Ailerons Rudder Elevators Radiator
< ___ < ___ < ___ -

Engine performance

Engine Aircraft mass
Engine name Number Basic mass Wing loading (full fuel)
General Electric F110-GE-100 1 9,228 kg 447 kg/m2
Engine characteristics Mass with fuel (no weapons load) Max Gross
Weight
Weight (each) Type 13m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 44m fuel
1,778 kg Afterburning low-bypass turbofan 10,202 kg 10,695 kg 11,428 kg 12,475 kg 17,903 kg
Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP)
Condition 100% WEP 13m fuel 20m fuel 30m fuel 44m fuel MGW
Stationary 6,646 kgf 10,966 kgf 1.07 1.03 0.96 0.88 0.61
Optimal 6,914 kgf
(1,200 - 1,400 km/h) 		14,603 kgf
(1,200 km/h) 		1.43 1.37 1.28 1.17 0.82

Survivability and armour

Flares/Chaff
Aircraft countermeasures to distract IR and radar-guided missiles and also AA radar
Crew2 people
Speed of destruction
Structural0 km/h
Gear482 km/h

Similar to other top-tier aircraft, the Barak II doesn't have any significant armor. The airframe can take some hits from 20mm/30mm, but a good burst will easily rip control surfaces apart, destroy the engine, and knock out pilots. A direct hit from any missile will most likely destroy the plane entirely.

Modifications and economy

Repair costBasic → Reference
AB2 915 → 4 392 Sl icon.png
RB8 422 → 12 691 Sl icon.png
SB9 933 → 14 969 Sl icon.png
Total cost of modifications321 600 Rp icon.png
497 000 Sl icon.png
Talisman cost3 100 Ge icon.png
Crew training310 000 Sl icon.png
Experts1 080 000 Sl icon.png
Aces3 400 Ge icon.png
Research Aces1 280 000 Rp icon.png
Reward for battleAB / RB / SB
90 / 320 / 490 % Sl icon.png
250 / 250 / 250 % Rp icon.png
Modifications
Flight performance Survivability Weaponry
Mods jet compressor.png
Compressor
Research:
8 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods booster.png
New boosters
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic wing.png
Wings repair
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods jet engine.png
Engine
Research:
20 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
31 000 Sl icon.png
830 Ge icon.png
Mods aerodinamic fuse.png
Fuselage repair
Research:
8 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods armor frame.png
Airframe
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods armor cover.png
Cover
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods heli false thermal targets.png
Flares/Chaff
Research:
8 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk82
Research:
8 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods thermal sight.png
LITENING II
Research:
8 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods ammo.png
M60_belt_pack
Research:
8 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 1.png
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9L
Research:
8 800 Rp icon.png
Cost:
14 000 Sl icon.png
370 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods g suit.png
G-suit
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
M117
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods laser guided bomb.png
GBU-12
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods air to air midrange missile.png
AIM-7M
Research:
12 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
18 000 Sl icon.png
500 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods night vision device.png
NVD
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods pilon bomb.png
Mk83
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods laser guided bomb.png
GBU-16
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods weapon.png
M60_new_gun
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods weapon.png
M60_new_gun
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mods air to air missile.png
AIM-9M
Research:
11 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
17 000 Sl icon.png
460 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow 0.png
Mods laser guided bomb.png
Mk84/GBU-31
Research:
20 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
31 000 Sl icon.png
830 Ge icon.png
Mods laser guided bomb.png
GBU-10
Research:
20 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
31 000 Sl icon.png
830 Ge icon.png
Mod arrow right 0.png
Mods optical guided bomb.png
GBU-15
Research:
20 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
31 000 Sl icon.png
830 Ge icon.png
Mods air to air type b midrange missile.png
Derby
Research:
20 000 Rp icon.png
Cost:
31 000 Sl icon.png
830 Ge icon.png

Armaments

Ballistic Computer
CCIP (Guns) CCIP (Rockets) CCIP (Bombs) CCRP (Bombs) Lead indicator
Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon RedXCross.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png Icon GreenCheckmark.png

Offensive armament

Main article: M61A1 (20 mm)

The F-16D Barak II is armed with:

  • 1 x 20 mm M61A1 cannon, wing root-mounted (512 rpg)
  • 200 x countermeasures

The 20mm Vulcan is an excellent weapon for air-to-air combat as it has favorable projectile velocity and is very easy to aim. However, the gun has a short spool up time so players must take this into account when preparing for a short burst. Plenty of countermeasures allow for longer time in battle and players also can be less concerned about running out of flares/chaff.

Suspended armament

The F-16D Barak II can be outfitted with the following ordnance:

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Hardpoints F-16C.png
500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs 4 4 4 4
500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs 4 4 4 4
750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2
1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2 1, 2
2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs 1 1 1 1
277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs 2* 2* 2* 2*
1,092 lb GBU-16 Paveway II bombs 1* 1* 1* 1*
957 kg GBU-10 Paveway II bombs 1* 1* 1* 1*
GBU-15(V)2/B bombs 1 1
AIM-7M Sparrow missiles 1 1
AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles 1 1 1 1 1 1
AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles 1 1 1 1 1 1
AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles 1 1 1 1 1 1
LITENING II targeting pod 1*
300 gal drop tanks 1
Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 2,000 kg
* LITENING II pod must be equipped when carrying Paveway guided bombs
Default weapon presets
  • 1 x 300 gal drop tank
  • 2 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
  • 6 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
  • 6 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
  • 6 x AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles
  • 2 x AIM-7M Sparrow missiles
  • 16 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (8,000 lb total)
  • 16 x 500 lb Mk 82 Snakeye bombs (8,000 lb total)
  • 4 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (3,000 lb total)
  • 8 x 750 lb M117 cone 45 bombs (6,000 lb total)
  • 4 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (4,000 lb total)
  • 8 x 1,000 lb LDGP Mk 83 bombs (8,000 lb total)
  • 4 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (8,000 lb total)
  • 8 x 277 kg GBU-12 Paveway II bombs (2,216 kg total)
  • 4 x 1,092 lb GBU-16 Paveway II bombs (4,368 lb total)
  • 4 x 957 kg GBU-10 Paveway II bombs (3,828 kg total)
  • 2 x GBU-15(V)2/B bombs (4,000 lb total)

Usage in battles

The Barak II provides a good platform for either committing to attacking other planes, destroying ground targets in GRB with the diverse payload options, or a mixture of both. A large amount of flares/chaff helps prolong the time the Barak II can spend in battle. Players must however keep in mind that the engine burns fuel very quickly when left on afterburner.

Like all other top-tier jets, maintaining situational awareness and knowing when to engage/disengage enemies is critical to survival. Especially in GRB, keep an eye out for enemy SPAA and be ready to take evasive maneuvers when your RWR is pinged or if you spot a missile.

When bringing the Barak II to GRB, the player can choose to either use conventional bombs or the "smart" GBU guided bombs. The four 2000lbs are very useful for taking out enemy tanks quickly when rushing, but the player again must be beware of ground SPAA and anti-air fire since the Barak II lacks armor. After bombs are expended, players can use their anti-air missiles against enemy planes if they choose to do so.

In ARB, the Barak II is best suited to plane-to-plane combat as it will benefit the team the most, and the Barak II's flight performance is significantly reduced when carrying bombs of any kind. It is better to not commit to close-range fights as you can easily be killed by other enemies while you are focused on eliminating someone, however the 20mm Vulcan makes downing planes quite easy if you need it. Make sure to utilize your AIM-9Ms as they are very effective at taking out enemy planes.

Pros and cons

Pros:

  • Access to the deadly AIM-9M missiles
  • Excellent loadout variety for ground attack and Air to Air combat
  • Good flight performance and maneuverability in most situations
  • Large number of countermeasures for prolonged combat, allows for some leniency in countermeasure use
  • Engines provide very good TWR (thrust to weight ratio)

Cons:

  • Inferior flight performance to the normal F-16A airframe due to additional weight
  • Carrying bombs or external ground-strike payload negatively impacts flight performance
  • Engine consumes fuel very quickly when on WEP/afterburner
  • No armor of any kind, extremely vulnerable to ground and air munitions of any kind
  • Large engine gives off a significant heat signature for IR missiles, even when afterburner is off
  • Tier III and Tier IV modifications take some time to research for non-premium players

History

In the late 1970s, Israel began its ambitious project to produce its first locally-manufactured jet fighter, meant to replace the aging IAI Kfir. Learning from their previous work on the Mirage and Kfir programs, and borrowing ideas from America's then-new F-16A fighter jet (which had entered IAF service in 1980 as the "Netz"), Israeli aeronautic engineers were able to develop a highly-manoeuvrable, delta-wing, single-seat fighter of their own - the IAI Lavi.

After nearly a decade of development the Lavi's first prototype was flown in 1986, and reportedly proved extremely capable. The United States, which had up to that point supported and partially funded the Lavi project, was dismayed to learn that the new aircraft might be good enough to provide a much cheaper competitor for the F-16 on the export market. The Reagan administration soon began pressuring the Israeli government to cancel the project. Though Israel's defense minister Moshe Arens was strongly behind the Lavi, the project's ever-increasing pricetag made it easy for the rest of the Israeli government to agree to US demands. The Lavi project was finally canceled in late 1987.

As compensation for torpedoing Israel's fighter manufacture ambitions, the United States agreed to sell Israel additional F-16Cs and Ds. A significant number of them, all from the Block 30 model, had already been sold to Israel by that point, entering IAF service under the codename "Barak" (Lightning) in late 1987. In 1988, the US and Israel signed that new "compensation" deal - named "Peace Marble III" - delivering a total of 60 F-16s, all from Block 40, between 1991 and 1993. Half were F-16Cs and half were F-16Ds (single-seat and double-seat, respectively). In the IAF, these new Block 40 aircraft were named "Barak II" (Lightning II), correspondingly amending the name of the older Block 30 aircraft to "Barak I" (note: the IAF does not keep separate names for single- and double-seat variants of the F-16).

The F-16C/D has several advantages over the F-16A/B, but the most important is the ability to mount a LANTIRN pod, turning the plane into an all-weather operator. As Israeli engineers had done with all other combat planes purchased for the IAF in the last 50 years, they also updated most of the avionics and introduced many locally-manufactured, cutting-edge improvements. This included completely redone Multi-Function Displays (MFDs) and in-helmet Heads-Up Display (HUD), among multiple other additions like the newest locally-manufactured IR missile the Python-4 and later the Active-Radar-Homing Rafael Derby Missile.

Barak II aircraft have taken part in almost every Israeli military campaign since their introduction, including the Second Lebanon War of 2006. Nevertheless, the changing needs of the Israeli Air Force have created a demand for a more dedicated fighter in the long-distance and precision-strike roles, resulting in the birth of the F-16I "Sufa". This heavily-modified F-16D Block 52 has since completely replaced the Barak in those roles, leaving it only with mid-altitude interception duties, which it still performs to this day. However, with the F-35 "Adir" now increasingly filling that role, there are ever-growing calls within the Israeli military community to finally retire the Barak II.

Media

Excellent additions to the article would be video guides, screenshots from the game, and photos.

See also

F-16 and its variants: F-16 (Family) - War Thunder Wiki

Israeli Aviation tech tree: Israel aircraft - War Thunder Wiki

External links

General Dynamics Corporation
Jet Fighters  F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C
Strike Aircraft  F-111A · F-111F
Export  ▄F-16A ADF · ▄F-16A · ▄F-16AM · ␗F-16A MLU · F-16AJ · Netz · F-16D Barak II · F-16C Barak II
  F-111C
See also  SABCA

Israel jet aircraft
  Kfir Canard · Kfir C.2 · Kfir C.7 · Nesher
Britain 
Meteor  Meteor NF.13 · Meteor F.8
France 
Vautour  Vautour IIA · Vautour IIN
Super Mystere  Sambad · Sa'ar
Mirage III  Shahak
Other  M.D.450B Ouragan · Mystere IVA
USA 
F-84  F-84F
A-4  A-4H · A-4E Early (M) · A-4E · Ayit
F-4  Kurnass · Kurnass 2000
F-15  Baz · Baz Meshupar
F-16  Netz · F-16C Barak II · F-16D Barak II

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