Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Most Air forces have moved away from using wide angle raster HUDs that were used by LANTIRN wings. These HUDs were wider and provided an IFOV enabling the pilot to see the total raster/image from the [Link pending approval]

Do you know any air force that uses WAR HUDs on their F 16s ? What are the reasons were leaving the WAR HUDs aside ?
[Link pending approval]

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Last edited by LinkF16SimDude on Nov 21, 2008 - 11:38 PM; edited 1 time in total

As I understand it, some KF-16s (Korean Block 52s) were the last new-built models designed with the WAR HUDs from square 1. It was something they decided on at the outset as they had a LANTIRN capability on that model. None of the newer foreign users (Poland, UAE, etc.) have WAR HUDs AFAIK.

When the US Block 4Xs came out, there was still a mission for doin' low-level nap-of-the-earth navigation heads up using the LANTIRN NAV pod IR video. The narrow FOV WAC HUD could still project raster imagery but the wider FOV WAR HUD was considered better for overall SA down low (my assumption).

Now that the NOE mission has pretty much faded away in favor of medium to high altitude engagement, the need for the WAR HUD sorta faded away with it. The WAR HUD was kinda goofy in that if you didn't have your head in just the right place, you lost part of the display, which was distracting in some regards. The WAC HUD doesn't have that problem. And I'm not for sure but there may be different infrastructure and supply chain issues involved with supporting the WAR HUD vice the WAC HUD. In other words: better commonality with the WAC HUD across model lines.

Some Turkish F-16s have them

Artistic shot of TuAF vipers from 161 Filo ready on the runway.

Yeah. Egyptian B40s have 'em also. But I should have qualified my first statement by saying no new users after 2000 I think (with the exception of the RoKAF) opted for WAR HUDs. Embarassed

ICBWT.

Having flown many, many hours in the 40,42. If you don't have to fly with a WAR HUD, good. Designed for night Lantirn (which the USAF doesn't do any more) and difficult to look through during the day.

LinkF16SimDude wrote:

Yeah. Egyptian B40s have 'em also. But I should have qualified my first statement by saying no new users after 2000 I think (with the exception of the RoKAF) opted for WAR HUDs. Embarassed

ICBWT.

just dropping by to disqualify(so to speak) your statement, the RSAF blk 52+ has the WAR HUD.

Just checked the RSAF picture database and....you are correct sir! My bad.

It seems that most wings are preferring to stay with the WAC HUD based on the mission need. I too heard about the problem of keeping your head
in one spot to get the instantenous FOV enabling the full view raster.
In the WAC HUD FOV varied according to CEP-Combat Eye Position and the DEP- Design Eye [Link pending approval] meant that the raster coming from the pod could be viewed by moving your head a little [Link pending approval]
I believe it would be safe to say that the new choice is to stay with the WAC HUD. LANTIRN guys are used to the WAR HUD based on the NOE [Link pending approval]
However do you think WAR HUD would be required if LANTIRN mission on NOE flight was required ?

Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Why WAR HUDs are no longer preferred esp. by LANTIRN wings ?