Message posted by Ron (Member since 07/25/2009) on July 01, 2023 at 16:00:19 PST:
The F-16CJ and F-16CG designated the two very different missions for the VIPER airframes. The -CGs carried LANTIRN pods and did the laser guided bomb strike mission. The -CJs carried the HARM targeting system and did SEAD with HARMs. The designation was likely driven by a desire to ensure the proper units/aircraft were tasked in air tasking orders (ATOs) around the world. Each type could not support the opposites pod or mission. Software was unique to each type. Without the differentiation, potentially dangerous mistakes were possible (if the only designation for all was F-16C). When late model Vipers all received the same upgraded central computer and common software to support HTS and new targeting pods (Litening and SNIPER) simultaneously, the designation -CM was applied to all. As shown in the linked story, the vast majority of active duty Viper sorties are flown with both types of pod. Before the update, the CJ models were not relevant, or tasked, to support OEF or OIF (once air defenses were gone) because they lacked air to ground capability putting a huge burden on the CGs and Strike Eagles. Most European Vipers are early model -As and the M addition designated they also received the computer/software upgrade.
Attached link: https://theaviationist.com/2023/06/27/rare-photo-shows-an-f-16-with-two-inert-b61-nuclear-bombs/?fbclid=IwAR0B2lJrU_HwRYeaw78rZLjP_Ojaj3J8ipYf8-LZjG39dFbGqdQ3vVmBcSkIn Reply to: Re: YF-220 and X-273 removed from Dan Javorsek resume posted by Peter Merlin on July 01, 2023 at 15:22:49 PST:
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