Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

How widely are sparrows used now in the USAF? I see nothing but AMRAAM on jets on recent pictures. The only sparrows I've seen in pics are when they're being fired at drones. Are sparrows still in use or are they being phased out already?

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Good question Confused

. I've also noticed that. Seems like the only aircraft that I know of still carrying the Sparrow lately is the F-14 - it can't fire AMRAAMs Sad

. If only they'd gone for the upgrade on the Tomcat...

So what's the story on the Viper, guys?

Story on the viper is this.

The F-16 originally wasn't developed to carry a BVR missile since it was conceived as a daytime dogfighter in the first place. During the development stage, the true potential of the little jet was realized and tests were made to see if the fighter was adaptable for a BVR capability.

We have pictures in the photo library of the two prototypes carrying Sparrows and even firing one during a test mission in the late seventies. These were carried on the main landing gear doors.

Although the concept was deemed feasable, the early production versions lacked the radars CWI (Continious Wave Illumination) to make a Sparrow firing possible. From the block 15 version and onwards, provisions were being made to include a BVR capacity.

The first F-16s being equipped with such a true BVR capability were the ANG's ADF (Air Defence Fighters). They were equipped with the CWI and Sparrow missiles. By the time they actually became operational, the AMRAAM missile came on the scene in the early nineties (after almost 10 years of development). So the Sparrow wasn't used that much on the viper and was soon replaced by the AMRAAM.

Greets,

During the late 80's the 56TTW/63TFTS sent 78-355 to the Depot where they did some work for us. During that time, it was 'borrowed' for some testing where it was modified to carry and (presumably) fire the AIM-7 in what I assume was development work for the future ADF modifications.

The bird came back with a stack of new wiring diagrams, weapons and electrical TO's.

Mike

Great history lesson Bjorn! Today the Viper (limited numbers and countries) does fly the AIM-7, in fact (if I'm not mistaken) there is still 1 USAF ANG unit which flies the AIM-7. However, with the AIM-120, the AIM-7 was pretty much replaced.

Thanks for all the great info guys Thumb

! I knew someone around here would have the answer!

But wait!!! There's more!

Good poop from the Janitor.

OTOH, main reason the Sparrow wasn't on the initial armament array was pure and simple - POLITICS.

Sheesh. We couldn't have a small, cheap jet that could out turn the Eagle, Flogger, Flanker, Mirage, Tornado, Zipper, Phantom, Scooter, et al that had a BVR capability, could we?

The illuminator required for the Sparrow was no big deal to add. There were also Sparrow configurations that used rails versus the ejection systems used by the Phantom and Eagle. So the main reason was to keep $$$$ for Eagles. Shoot, if I could fire Sparrows (the Great White Hope, heh heh) from my Viper, why buy so many Eagles?

Go to the Air Power forum and get Snake to talk more about the Sparrow- he already has some good stats there.

Finally, the Great White Hope left a trail of smoke you could see from way way out there. The Viper could actually do its 'bat turn', light the burner and run away from the thing if Joe Baggodonuts in the Eagle or Double-Ugly fired at max range. Now, the Slammer is a different beast in that regard - ask some folks that flew Migs in 1991. Our local Wing - 33rd used to have a sign that stated " Largest distributor of Mig parts in SouthWest Asia". heh heh.

out,

I have worked the Sparrow launcher that mounts on station 3 and 7 like a normal pylon. It was for a very short period of time at Luke and I believe they belonged to a tenant foreign country. I don't even remember what the nomenclature was. It was a beefy pylon and rack that was soully suited to the missile only.

Is there a mission where the Aim-7 may be preferred over the Aim-120?

so what ground target would you use the -7 for? Cool

It's got a big enough warhead so use it as a HARM!

2.75 maybe

The early Sparrow guidance units looked pretty primitive compared to the later versions so, as expected, there was considerable evolution. My question is this: How much overlap was there with later versions of AIM-7s and early versions of AMRAAMs (shared technology, etc.)?

And what about the British Skyflash? Any comments about it with regard to the Sparrow?

Last edited by Loader on Apr 07, 2005 - 08:19 PM; edited 1 time in total

EriktheF-16462 wrote:

I have worked the Sparrow launcher that mounts on station 3 and 7 like a normal pylon. It was for a very short period of time at Luke and I believe they belonged to a tenant foreign country. I don't even remember what the nomenclature was. It was a beefy pylon and rack that was soully suited to the missile only.

It is called the AIM-7/AIM-120 Radar Rail Launcher, it is a dual rail launcher designed to launch either the AIM-7 or the AIM-120 missile. These are mainly an allied nation launcher these days, as I stated eariler, I think there is only 1 unit left in the USAF (ANG).

Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

AIM-7 Sparrow