F-16AJ
| This page is about the Japanese jet fighter F-16AJ. For other versions, see F-16 (Family). |
Contents
Description
The F-16AJ Fighting Falcon represents the proposed introduction of the F-16C Block 40 into JASDF service, as suggested by General Dynamics on multiple occasions, including Japanese airshows and their executive summary. The JASDF had plans to import third-generation jet fighters from NATO or allied countries to replace their existing fleet of F-86 and F-104J aircraft as part of a parallel program to develop the successor to the Mitsubishi F-1 by the 1980s. However, due to various complications within and outside Japan, the introduction plans were ultimately abandoned, and Mitsubishi chose to develop the F-2 with the support of General Dynamics instead.
Introduced in Update "Sky Guardians", the F-16AJ is currently one of only two truly multirole F-16s in the game, alongside the ROCAF's F-16A MLU. The F-16AJ also marks the introduction of the AGM-65 series into JASDF service, providing much-anticipated precision air-to-ground weaponry for the JGSDF. With one of the latest airborne radars in the game and weapon systems mostly identical to other F-16 variants, the F-16AJ now presents a good option for players who require both air interception and ground attack capabilities. Its available payloads will not disappoint players.
General info
Flight performance
| Characteristics | Max speed (km/h at 10,973 m) |
Max altitude (metres) |
Turn time (seconds) |
Rate of climb (metres/second) |
Take-off run (metres) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AB | RB | AB | RB | AB | RB | |||
| Stock | 2,103 | 2,072 | 15240 | 20.0 | 20.2 | 262.9 | 250.8 | 850 |
| Upgraded | 2,209 | 2,156 | 19.0 | 19.5 | 350.9 | 305.0 | ||
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 internal fuel) | |||
| Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 | 1 | 7,690 kg | 392 kg/m2 | |||
| Engine characteristics | Mass with internal fuel (no weapons load) | Max Gross Weight | ||||
| Weight (each) | Type | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 29m fuel | ||
| 1,470 kg | Afterburning low-bypass turbofan | 8,662 kg | 9,913 kg | 10,930 kg | 16,848 kg | |
| Maximum engine thrust @ 0 m (RB/SB) | Thrust to weight ratio @ 0 m (WEP) | |||||
| Condition | 100% | WEP | 8m fuel | 20m fuel | 29m fuel | MGW |
| Stationary | 6,490 kgf | 8,985 kgf | 1.04 | 0.90 | 0.82 | 0.53 |
| Optimal | 7,434 kgf (1,555 km/h) |
15,225 kgf (1,400 km/h) |
1.76 | 1.53 | 1.39 | 0.90 |
Survivability and 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.
Modifications and economy
| Flight performance | Survivability | Weaponry | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Armaments
| Ballistic Computer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CCIP (Guns) | CCIP (Rockets) | CCIP (Bombs) | CCRP (Bombs) | Lead indicator |
 |
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Offensive armament
The F-16AJ is armed with:
- A choice between two presets:
- 1 x 20 mm JM61A1 cannon, wing root-mounted (512 rpg)
- 1 x 20 mm JM61A1 cannon + 60 x countermeasures
Suspended armament
The F-16AJ can be outfitted with the following ordnance presets:
- 1 x 300 gal drop tank
- 2 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
- 6 x AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles
- 6 x AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles
- 2 x AIM-7F Sparrow missiles
- 19 x 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs (9,500 lb total)
- 4 x 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs (8,000 lb total)
- 114 x FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets
- 6 x AGM-65B missiles
Custom loadout options
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 500 lb LDGP Mk 82 bombs | 3 | 3, 6 | 1 | 3, 6 | 3 | |||||
| 2,000 lb LDGP Mk 84 bombs | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||
| FFAR Mighty Mouse rockets | 57 | 57 | ||||||||
| AGM-65B missiles | 1, 3 | 1, 3 | ||||||||
| AIM-7F Sparrow missiles | 1 | 1 | ||||||||
| AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| AIM-9P Sidewinder missiles | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||
| 300 gal drop tanks | 1 | |||||||||
| Maximum permissible weight imbalance: 2,000 kg | ||||||||||
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).
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Excellent acceleration and climb rate at any speed and highly manoeuvrable at low to medium speeds
- Excellent 20 mm Vulcan cannon, with a high precision, fire rate and damage
- Able to carry a drop tank to increase flight time
- Capable of carry 6 powerful air-to-air missiles, such as 6 x AIM-9L Sidewinder or mixed with 2 x AIM-7F
- 360° unobstructed bubble canopy perfect for simulator battles
- Capable of carrying an extremely diverse wide range of bombs, rockets and AGM-65Bs
Cons:
- As the airframe is based on the earlier F-16A models, the elevator is significantly smaller than the late variants of the F-16A and has a worse manoeuvrability compared to a ADF or MLU models
- Internal M61 cannon has a low ammo pool and trigger time
- Control surfaces compression above 850 km/h, greatly decreasing the manoeuvrability above this speed
- Very high fuel consumption with afterburner on, and high engine temperature
History
Historically, JASDF is not an user of F-16 series (while USINDOPACOM operates F-16C in Japan airbases); as JASDF was seeking for a new domestic jet fighter to replace the fleet of earlier jets (F-86F, F-104J), as well as pre-development for Mitsubishi F-1 replacement jet. The ambitious plan for a domestic 3rd generation jet fighter came into plan as the Mitsubishi-led enterprises tried to "make Hinomaru flies into the skies again" and further enhancing the Japan's defense industry by mobilizing the whole industry for a new jet. While this plan was given the green light, there were plans for importing foreign jets from the NATO systems; one of these plan was introducing F-16AJ to JASDF service as shown in a twitter post where General Dynamics advertised their jet in 5th Japan International Aerospace Exhibition in 1976[1] and from an executive summary from GD (numbered F16-120-1)[2].
Japan eventually opted for co-development between Japan and US based on the airframe of F-16 and some revisions for better anti-ship payload known as F-2 in the future; marking the attempted sales of F-16AJ failed.
Media
- Skins
Market
See also
- Related development
External links
| General Dynamics Corporation | |
|---|---|
| Jet Fighters | F-16A · F-16A ADF · F-16C |
| Strike Aircraft | F-111A |
| Export | Netz · Barak II · ▄F-16A ADF · ␗F-16A MLU · F-16AJ |
| Japan jet aircraft | |
|---|---|
| IJNAS | |
| Experimental | Kikka |
| Reconnaissance | R2Y2 Kai V1 · R2Y2 Kai V2 · R2Y2 Kai V3 |
| IJAAS | |
| Fighters | Ki-200 |
| JASDF | |
| Fighters | F-86F-30 ▅ · F-86F-40 ▅ · F-86F-40 JASDF▅ |
| F-104J | |
| F-4EJ Phantom II · F-4EJ ADTW · F-4EJ Kai Phantom II | |
| F-15J | |
| F-16AJ | |
| F-1 | |
| Trainers | T-2 Early · T-2 |
| Foreign | |
| Thailand | ▄F-5E FCU |
- ↑ https://twitter.com/Fighterman_FFRC/status/1633781167546859520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1633786947650072577%7Ctwgr%5Ecd07cbf618c6ac31bc6c1de1ca7e6fcc4e0c9014%7Ctwcon%5Es2_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fforum.warthunder.com%2Findex.php%3Fapp%3Dcoremodule%3Dsystemcontroller%3Dembedurl%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Ftwitter.com%2FStormovikForeve%2Fstatus%2F1633786947650072577
- ↑ As shown in the jet's suggestion page at the forum https://forum.warthunder.com/index.php?/topic/545474-f-16ajbj-a-possible-solution/
