Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

Can the -131 still be used in lieu of the -184? i.e. SEAD missions, OIF loadouts? Any specific blocks, 40 or later? Are -131's still being used in the desert? A lot of model kit reviews show excitement about the new availability of the -131 vs. the -184, which is available in the Tamiya kits.

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Good question, does it and the -119(?) ever get used any more? On any of our aircraft for that matter?

Hello all,

The ALQ-119 is not in use anymore in USAF Viper units!! You might see a few on static displays as "public pleasers" only.

The two other pods - the ALQ-131 and ALQ-184 - are unit specific and not Block-specific!! The AFRC use the -131s solely whereas a mix can be found in ANG units, but not within the same unit!!

The Active Air Force F-16 units in the USAF fly the ALQ-184 in a mix of short and long pods at their bases in the US. THe USAFE fly the ALQ-131 and the PACAF fly the ALQ-184(long) exclusively.

Capability-wise a lot has been done over the past years to standardize the capabilities of the two pods, but I have been told that the ALQ-184 (long) works a bit better for air-air work?!

Note that if You are to make a Viper model with the ALQ-131 pod You need to use a so-called ECM adapter - not the same pylon normally used in connection with the center line mounted 300 gal. tank and the ALQ-184 family of pods!!

A correct ECM-adapter can be found in any of the newer Rewell 1/72 scale kits - if You build 1/72 of cause Wink

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Hope it was of some help.

Greetings,

Henrik.

Good info! Thanks! I guess the adapter is a lot thinner for the -131 due to the low clearance along with a shallow pod Smile

So all my PACAF models will have the long -184!

Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

AN/ALQ-131 or the AN/ALQ-184