Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

Last edited by RSAF-G2 on Apr 22, 2005 - 12:45 PM; edited 1 time in total

These were photos taken by the press at the Republic of Singapore AirForce's opening of a new Airbase to house Sqn.145 (F-16D Sqn)

A somehow different HUD from F-16D, Block 52...anyone has any idea wad this is? Is this a non-standard HUD or something? This aircraft is also equipped with DASH-3 HMS.

F-16.net Sponsor

That would be the holographic Wide Angle Raster (WAR) HUD first seen in USAF Block 40s. The one in the pic is probably an upgraded version. Some of the Korean-built KF-16s have the same setup.

Any specialty with the WAR? Does it have any special functions or are these able to better support the use of LANTIRN pods?

Anyone has any idea, what's the rough estimated range of these F-16Ds?

The empty weight of these are about 9800kg without the CFT.
Considering that these birds carry the non-standard 600lb tanks + CFT....how far can such a bird carrying AMRAAM + HARM or GBU fly?

What kind of marking does it carry on the tail?? Do you have any close ups of this badge?
Do you have more clear pictures of this plane?
regards
Dick

RSAF-G2 wrote:

Any specialty with the WAR? Does it have any special functions or are these able to better support the use of LANTIRN pods?

The USAF used it because it could draw raster video from the LANTIRN system. Kinda like having a dinner plate-sized TV monitor right on top of the instrument panel. It also has a wider field-of-view than the collimated HUDs and may have better optical qualities when focused to infinity. Some of the crew dogs on the board can check my logic on that one.

I'm guessing Korea and Singapore (and maybe others?) opted for it thinking they may get some kind of precision attack system in the future that would be optimized by using the WAR HUD vs. the collimated HUD.

I'm sure if I searched all the way through all the topics I'd find the answer to this question, but is there a real good reason why the USAF didnt opt for the dorsal spines on our jets? I think its a pretty neat idea to add some more avionics (or MOVE them so us crew dawgs can have more room for OUR stuff Wink

) Also they look pretty nice, the CFT's add a nice touch...but I would HATE to hang those 600g tangs man...370's were a PITA enough as it was

LinkF-16SimDude wrote:

That would be the holographic Wide Angle Raster (WAR) HUD first seen in USAF Block 40s. The one in the pic is probably an upgraded version. Some of the Korean-built KF-16s have the same setup.

Quick correction on the WAR HUD comment.

The HUD in the Singapore Block 52+ aircraft is a Detractive Optics (DO) HUD. Nothing new or special. USAF Block 40s have used them for years. It is up to the country on which HUD version they would like to install in their aircraft. Most of them choose the Wide Angle Reflection (WAR) HUD, but on occasion, like in the Singapore block 52+, they opted for the DO HUD.

Hi Guys, I am new here.

Like to know what is a Detractive Optics HUD? I believe function wise,there is no difference between DO HUD and the WAC HUD.

Someone mentioned that the WAR HUD can draw stuff faster...so since these birds have LANTIRNs and GBUs, could this actually be the WAR, or is it the DO HUD? What's the difference?

The dorsal spine stuff...I heard is still top secret. but it's believed that its all ECM and HARM targetting stuff... and maybe additional chaff/flares. A pilot once told me it's almost impossible to get a lock on these F-16Ds... but maybe missiles can still be fired on HOJ mode against it.

What I don't understand is why Singapore felt the need to equip the RSAF with attack-optimised F-16Ds equipped with CFTs. These are serious strike aircrafts... who do they need to attack anyway?

F-16N wrote:

What I don't understand is why Singapore felt the need to equip the RSAF with attack-optimised F-16Ds equipped with CFTs. These are serious strike aircrafts... who do they need to attack anyway?

Looking at the region...China would be my guess. It's just speculation but with the ChiComms building a cutting-edge military and occasionally rattling sabers in regards to Taiwan, Singapore (allied with forces from the PI, Indonesia, and Malaysia) would have a potent counter-assault element should China ever retake Taiwan and get the itch to keep moving south into the waters between Vietnam and the PI. For that to happen, one must assume the military abandonment of Taiwan by the US after so many years of support as the last outpost of Chinese Democracy.

Once such an assault was underway, the forces of the "Free Island Allies" would fend off the Chinese attack long enough for the US and/or Australia to move forces into the area in support. Free passage thru the South China Sea is too important an issue for the US to not make a stand.

Its a little too early and sensitive to speak of why Singapore is so serious with building its military capability, in fact its doctrine dictates maintaining a certain ratio of size force and technological advantage of "aggressors" - A common term, but highly classified to reveal its formulative of this "imaginative aggressor". Obviously, they don't imagine it out, but is formulated based on certain real world powers.

At least from the publicly available orbat, we can know that Singapore is serious with the ability to maintain air superiority within 200nm and the ability for long range strike force, hence the procurement of F-16D/52+ with dorsal and GBU/HARM/LANTIRN, supported by KC-135Rs and upgraded E-2C Hawkeye as well as the up and coming Rafale/Eurofighter/F-15S competition, which will be announced in January 2005.

Forum Veteran Joined: Nov 07, 2003 - 09:12 PM Posts: 901

RSAF-G2 wrote:

the up and coming Rafale/Eurofighter/F-15S competition, which will be announced in January 2005.

F-15S!?

There are only three types of HUDs in production F-16s, the early 'regular' HUD and the later WAC and WAR HUDs.

I haven't heard the Diffractive Optics (DO) term used for the WAR HUD, although that may well be part of the optical technology employed. The WAR HUD is capable of displaying raster imagery from the targeting pod in addition to the calligraphic (stroke) symbology in the HUD. The WAC HUD can only display the calligraphic (stroke) symbology.

Forum Veteran Joined: Nov 07, 2003 - 09:12 PM Posts: 901

habu2 wrote:

The WAR HUD is capable of displaying raster imagery from the targeting pod in addition to the calligraphic (stroke) symbology in the HUD.

habu2, just to confirm, you meant Targeting pod and not Navigation pod above.

cheers,

Forum: F-16 Spotting & Photography

Block 52 CFT and mystery HUD