Indian F-16 blk 70?

[dsawan 624]

Did not know if one in works. Basign it on this article:

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/r-exclusive-lockheed-says-us-may-take-fresh-look-at-its-india-f-16-plan-2017-2

[+Coupi 4,388]

Fastly done from the F-16C Block 52+ by Viper Team and the "what if" F-16E mod... with added IRST and deleted pitot mainly.

 

 

Edited February 12, 2017 by Coupi

[dsawan 624]

Nice. Any Brahmos capability?

 

 

Air-launched variant

The air-launched version of BrahMos.

BrahMos-A

The BrahMos-A is a modified air-launched variant of the missile which will arm the Su-30MKI of the air force as a standoff weapon. To reduce the missile's weight to 2.55 tons, many modifications were made like using a smaller booster, adding fins for airborne stability after launch, and relocating the connector. It can be released from the height of 500 to 14,000 meters (1,640 to 46,000 ft). After release, the missile free falls for 100–150 meters, then goes into a cruise phase at 14,000 meters and finally the terminal phase at 15 meters. BrahMos Aerospace planned to deliver the missile to the IAF in 2015, where it is expected to arm at least three squadrons.^[12] An Su-30MKI is able to only carry one BrahMos missile.^[69]

The missile was also planned to arm the Indian Navy's Ilyushin Il-38 and Tupolev Tu-142 maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft with 6 missiles per aircraft, but this could not be made possible due to insufficient ground clearance of the IL-38, high cost of modifying the Tu-142 and the questionable benefits of modifying an ageing fleet.^[12][70]

The air-launched version for the Indian Air Force was ready for testing in 2008.^[71] An expert committee from the DRDO and the Indian Air Force (IAF) had ruled out any structural modifications to the Sukhoi Su-30MKI to carry the missile.^[72] On 22 October 2008, A. Sivathanu Pillai, Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO and CEO and managing director of BrahMos Aerospace, announced that trials and tests were to be carried out by 2011, and the IAF would get its own version of BrahMos by 2012.^[73]

On 10 January 2009, it was reported that two Indian Air Force Su-30MKI fighter jets were sent to Russia for a retrofit program that would enable them to launch the missile.^[74] On 8 August 2009, Alexander Leonov, Director of the Russian Machine Building Research and Production Center, said "we are ready for test launches." He also said that a new takeoff engine for launching of the missile in air and at extreme high altitudes had been developed, and the initial test firing of the missile would be undertaken from the Su-30 MKI, but did not specify the dates. On 26 February 2012, A. Sivathanu Pillai said that the air-launched version of BrahMos is being developed and will be tested by the end of 2012. This version of the BrahMos missile will use air breathing scramjet propulsion technology and would be more fuel efficient than a traditional rocket-powered missile.^[75][76]

The purchase of over 200 air-launched BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles for the IAF was cleared by Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on 19 October 2012, at the cost of ₹60 billion (US$892 million). This would include funds for the integration and testing of the BrahMos on Su-30MKI of the IAF. As per this plan, the first test of the air-launched version of the missile was to be conducted by December 2012. Two Su-30MKI of the IAF would be modified by the HAL at its Nashik facility where they will also be integrated with the missile's aerial launcher.^[77][78]

Finally, the demonstration flight was carried out at Hindustan Aeronautics Limited Nashik on 25 June 2016 as a modified Su-30MKI carrying BrahMos-A underwent a successful trial flight,^[79] the first time a heavyweight supersonic cruise missile had been integrated on a long-range fighter aircraft; the project to adapt the weapon for air launch was approved in 2011, but was bogged down with technology transfer and intellectual property rights concerns. To carry the missile, the Su-30MKI undercarriage had to be strengthened, which also required new hard points and structural modifications. The cost of adapting the BrahMos for air launch was "phenomenal," but efforts to downsize the missile were abandoned after an attempt to reduce the size of the ramjet.^[80] 40 IAF Su-30s are to be equipped to carry the missile.^[81]

 

 

^{https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BrahMos#Air-launched_variant}

[SayethWhaaaa 245]

The Brhamos looks bigger than an F-16! I think you'd have better luck strapping the Viper to the Brahmos, than the Brahmos to the Viper.

[dsawan 624]

That second pics. looks good. Any chance of a release?

[MigBuster 2,884]

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/who-we-are/global/india.html

 

http://www.lockheedmartin.com/content/dam/lockheed/data/aero/documents/F-16_Block_70_Executive_Summary_2017.pdf