Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Can a "small-mouth" block viper can still carry/use LANTIRN?

Thanks.

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Block 42 had them from day 1.

Quote:

Block 42 had them from day 1.

Actually not true. The 40's were designed with the pods in mind but they did not initially carry them because of limited quantities. The first 40's in the Gulf war did not carry the pods because they went to the Mud Hens. The Block 25's and 30's had station 5a and b mounts to carry pods when they were built but they needed updated software to run them.

Getting back to the first question.
Can a "small-mouth" block viper can still carry/use LANTIRN?

Yes they can because the hard points are there, now do they carry them is another question based on F16Guy's post.
I helped work on the hard points when AFRC got their first TGP pods, and was with the AFRC unit that dropped the first bombs in combat. By the time we received the pods the software was already installed.

Block 40/42 has small inlets (clarification)?? sorry have no time to search over the net.. thanks

Don't even block 15OCU's have the chin stations?

Enthusiast Joined: Aug 12, 2007 - 05:33 PM Posts: 20

Block 15 had the hardpoints before OCU came along..
Yes a small mouth F-16 can carry a Lantirn pod.

F16guy wrote:

Quote:

Block 42 had them from day 1.

Actually not true. The 40's were designed with the pods in mind but they did not initially carry them because of limited quantities. The first 40's in the Gulf war did not carry the pods because they went to the Mud Hens. The Block 25's and 30's had station 5a and b mounts to carry pods when they were built but they needed updated software to run them.

F-16CG 40/42 were the first Vipers to be compatible with LANTIRN from production. They had the stations and software/hardware to support LANTIRN when it became available.

Quote:

The first operational F-16s to be equipped with LANTIRN were Block 40/42 models, sometimes referred to as the "Night Falcon". Due to the USAF's concept of "misionized aircraft", which was extended to individual blocks, Block 40/42 F-16CG/DGs remained the only LANTIRN-capable F-16s in the USAF inventory for a long time (except for some F-16Bs which were used in LANTIRN-tests at Edwards). - F-16.net

So to specify; when LANTIRN was first use on Vipers, they were used on CG 40/42. (Big/Small-Mouth)

Quote:

Block 40/42 has small inlets (clarification)?? sorry have no time to search over the net.. thanks

No; Block 42 is a PW engine and uses a "small-mouth", the 40s are GE and "big-mouth"

So yes, LANTIRN pods will fit on "small-mouth" Vipers, and can be operational with proper upgrades for Blocks previous to 40/42.

Keep 'em flyin' Thumb

TEG

That_Engine_Guy wrote:

Block 42 had them from day 1.

Yes you are correct I was crewing BLK 42 acft with the FWS at Nellis back in 1990 and we flew Lantirn both the nav and target pods all the time on our small mouth acft. Anouther good example is Luke they were flying the Lantirn pods also at the same time on their small mouths:D

Does anybody use the LANTIRN Nav pod any more?

SixerViper wrote:

Does anybody use the LANTIRN Nav pod any more?

Maybe some foreign AF (Korean Block 52s may carry 'em) but USAF hasn't used 'em operationally on Vipers in years. Mudhens used to use 'em right up until they got the newer stuff.

snick wrote:

Block 40/42 has small inlets (clarification)?? sorry have no time to search over the net.. thanks

Block 40: Big Mouth (GE motor)
Block 42: Small Mouth (P/W motor)

Same scheme goes for Block 50/52.

OK thanks...

Regardless of small mouth or large mouth inlet, any USAF Blk 25/30/32/40/42/50/52 can carry any of the currently flown targeting pods.

Cheers,

ViperDude

OK guys... Thanks for the clarifications. Now Its clear to me.

Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Can a "small-mouth" F-16 carry LANTIRN?