Mixed formation F-4G and F-16?

[Stratos]

I'm currently reading Viper Pilot by Dan Hampton and in the first Gulf War mission they are on a SEAD strike on Mosul Air defenses. The thing that calls my attention is that the 4 plane flight is two pairs of mixed composition, 1 F-4G and 1 F-16. I know the Hampton squadron was a mixed one back then, but why mixing both planes on a flight? Is the F-4G more capable as a SEAD aircraft?

 

Thanks.

[+daddyairplanes]

the 52d TFW integrated F-4E (as killers) and F-4G (as hunters) into a super "Weasel Wing" in the 80's. when the E model was swapped for Vipers, the practice continued. the G was better at finding the threats (some would say still is) but was limited on ordinance esp if it carried the bags of gas needed for useful range/loiter time. the Viper could carry more HARMs or other ordinance and go kill what the Weasel found.

[MigBuster]

Good book - been a while since I read it though.

 

Sounds like a hunter killer team - the F-4G was the primary SEAD platform in 91 - what were the F-16s carrying?

 

A famous mission involved F-16A block 10s taking out SAM sites with dumb bombs - were supposed to have SEAD support from F-4Gs and area jamming from EF-111s.

 

 

The F-16CJ Block 50/52 was the SEAD version that carried the HTS - this pod replaced the F-4G :) .

 

 I think but would need to check - in 1991 the newest F-16s in theatre were Block 40/42s. - not even sure there were any active F-16CJ squadrons. 

Edited May 15, 2014 by MigBuster

[+daddyairplanes]

generally the Vipers would carry CBU, being the more manueverable platform, while the Phantoms would carry the HARMs. they had the abiltiy to reprogram in flight IIRC,while the Vipers would carry HARMs preset for specific threats if they carried.

 

also IIRC the Weasels were flying escort for BUFFs towards the end when the threats were negligible and it was time to pound on the Republican Gaurd

[macelena]

Yep, we could say...they went into HARM´s way...

[Chutedangle]

I just read that book not long ago.

I was surprised to know that they used F-16's

as Wild Weasels.

Guess you have to use the latest and greatest.

[busdriver]

Chutedangle, just to be clear, in the first Gulf War, F-16s were not Wild Weasels. That mission came later. It's a mission they still have. To answer Stratos' question about mixing F-4G and F-16C in the same flight. Limited numbers of precious (at the time) F-4Gs.

[Stratos]

Chutedangle, just to be clear, in the first Gulf War, F-16s were not Wild Weasels. That mission came later. It's a mission they still have. To answer Stratos' question about mixing F-4G and F-16C in the same flight. Limited numbers of precious (at the time) F-4Gs.

Well in fact the author was training as Viper Wild Weasel pilot already in 1989 in a mixed squadron together with F-4G at SP. On the mission both kind of planes are using HARM against SA-2 and SA-3, and any mobile SAM they encounter. Is nice how he uses one HARM as a quick reaction weapon in order to make the SAM operators turn off the radar. I'm still reading it. Great book!!

 

BTW I also think the F4G should be a better SEAD platform, at least as a leader/hunter role, the dedicated guy on the backseat and the specific equipment carried should make the G Phantom a SEAD AC to be feared. Wish Osprey launch a book about those guys.

[MigBuster]

BTW I also think the F4G should be a better SEAD platform, at least as a leader/hunter role, the dedicated guy on the backseat and the specific equipment carried should make the G Phantom a SEAD AC to be feared. Wish Osprey launch a book about those guys.

 

Well that's up for debate - as I said the F-16 with the ASQ-213 HTS (Weasel in a can) is what gives the F-16CJ/DJ/CM/DM the required avionics to replace the F-4G including the second man - you could argue on what was more effective.

 

I think most F-16s could carry AGM-45 and AGM-88 - this doesn't make them WIld Weasels - e.g in Vietnam a multitude of jets carried and fired AGM-45 not only the dedicated A-6B / EF-4C/ F-100F / F-105F/G

 

 

 

These days the only things a second man is good for seems to be..............

 

 

Edited May 16, 2014 by MigBuster

[Stratos]

I tried the HTS pod in F4 BMS, no one knows the degree of realism that sim has but it gives the pilot a clear picture of what is around.