First Iraqi F-16 makes maiden flight

[k98nights]

First Iraqi F-16 makes maiden flight

Gareth Jennings, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly

06 May 2014

 

 

The first of 36 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon multirole combat aircraft for the Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) making its maiden flight out of Fort Worth in Texas. Deliveries to Iraq are due to commence shortly. Source: Lockheed Martin

 

The first of 36 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon multirole combat aircraft for the Iraqi Air Force (IqAF) has made its maiden flight, the company announced on 7 May.

The twin-seat F-16D conducted the flight out of the Fort Worth production facility in Texas, although Lockheed Martin disclosed no further details.

Iraq is set to shortly begin receiving its first batch of 18 aircraft, which will bridge the top-end capability gap that the IQAF has had since it was reconstituted in 2003 following the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

According to US Defense Security and Co-operation Agency (DSCA) notifications, these aircraft will be equipped with Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing Systems; conformal fuel tanks; http://iqd.me/l/11 & Whitney F100PW-229 or General Electric F110-GE-129 increased-performance engines; AN/APG-68(V)9 radar sets; AN/AAQ-33 Sniper or AN/AAQ-28 Litening targeting pods; F-9120 Advanced Airborne Reconnaissance Systems (AARS) or DB-110 reconnaissance pods; AN/ALQ-211 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites or Advanced Countermeasures Electronic Systems (ACES); and AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispensing systems.

Weapon systems listed by the DSCA comprised M61 20 mm Vulcan cannons (plus 40,000 rounds of ammunition); AIM-9L/M-8/9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles; AIM-7M-F1/H Sparrow medium-range missiles; AGM-65D/G/H/K Maverick air-to-surface missiles; 500 lb (226.8 kg) GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided bombs; 2,000 lb GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided bombs; 2,000 lb GBU-24 Paveway III laser-guided bombs; Mk 84 2000 lb and Mk 82 500 lb general-purpose bombs.

 

http://www.janes.com/article/37525/first-iraqi-f-16-makes-maiden-flight

[RAGARCIA62]

. Bad-ass looking plane.

[ronscarpa]

Thanks Woody...(+1) .. a good article..!   

[chess]

.....no cup holders??

[uncirculd]

Due, but not delivered.  Wonder if they are also waiting for the new GOI.

[Kinematik]

Great

So dumb they are who thinks is a good idea to deliver these airplanes to the people in bagdad who can't even unite over oil export or the budget.

Ridiculous

Edited May 7, 2014 by Kinematik

[HF4237]

I wonder how much one costs? Maybe we can all pitch in to buy one when this RVs! Haha kidding...   

[SnowGlobe7]

sometimes Rayzur lets me hold the wheel

[waterman13]

Silly wabbit, cats can't fly.

Wm13

[mcjocky1]

   So..  we have Kerry still bemoaning the unstable Middle East, Obama still talking about cautious optimsm for an improvement in the war torn ME, and then we hear this.

 

   American advisers/training staff numbering hundreds in Iraq, will be wondering if they will get (ACES) to cover their (ARS) when these planes arrive ?.

[waterman13]

I remember seeing a post about Iraqi pilots being in the US for months training on the F16. That was several months ago. Who knows when they will be delivered, they have been talking about these fighters for months.

Wm13

[DinarDavo]

Advanced training in process.....

 

Edited May 7, 2014 by DinarDavo

[ammo2001]

I'm hoping to be one of the lucky few who get to go over and train the Iraqis on how to use the equipment correctly.

First lesson: Don't point that thing at anything you don't plan on shooting.

[djgabrielie]

.....no cup holders??

Plenty of barf bags though!!! lol

[82Corp.]

Due, but not delivered.  Wonder if they are also waiting for the new GOI.

Yes!

[Muleslayer]

Friend of mine made this!

Old guys flying airplanes!

[imgesing]

It's a rush alright...

Let's hope we are holding off delivery as one more peg of the release...

[sandfly]

THANKS

[calkid11]

Thank you