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Last edited by habu2 on Mar 28, 2004 - 05:03 PM; edited 1 time in total

Does anyone know the proper designation for the chin-mounted jammer pods used on F-16 adversary/aggressor jets? (e.g.AN/XYZ-nnn)

I asked this tangentially in another thread but I thought it probably deserves a thread of its own.

(edited to correct image URL)

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A jammer, is that what that thing is? I was wondering and going to put a post up about it. . .

Well I have heard different descriptions given for its purpose. The lack of information available about these pods makes me think it is probably classified in nature. It is my impression that the pods do not so much"jam" as they allow the jet to mimic the RCS of different aircraft during ACM practice... enough said. I'm only interested in the designation though, nothing more.

Seems sensible enough, I've only seen them on the aggressor aircraft and the AF aggressors are the only ones i've seen carry the centerline pod that's supposed to mimic the RCS of other aircraft.

Good q....no one seems to know?

I've been through all my books and haven't been able to find anything other than "chin pods"... Sad

Veteran Joined: Jun 16, 2003 Posts: 268 Status: Offline

I'll have to look for the proper NOUN of the item, but from my understanding it was aone time mod for the Nellis Agressors only,. It is the AMD/AMA pod on a pylon, mounted to the chin of the jet, whereas all other F-16s fly the AMD on the missile body, making it an AMA. You may have seen it as a missile without the guidance section. I'll look for a photo.

They originally appeared on the USN F-16Ns and are now seen on the USAF Aggressor F-16s. The photo I linked to was of an F-16N circa 1993.

Cobra Company does a resin set and they just call them "intake sensor pods"

http://www.cobracompany.com/48025.htm

Here's a couple pics I took of the newly repainted Fighting Flanker, circa Nov. 2003.

No wonder you wanted to see if I had gotten a shot of the dataplate, G.....had I known....

Veteran Joined: Jun 16, 2003 Posts: 268 Status: Offline

My fault forgot about the Navy. Those pics are indeed of the AMD no doubt in my mind. I'll post a pic of the AMD on the missile body in the am.

Veteran Joined: Jun 16, 2003 Posts: 268 Status: Offline

Here it is on the a missile body on an Aviano jet. You can clearly see it is the same.

Can you tell me more about what AMA/AMD stand for? When I google those all I get are a bazillion links to the American Medical Association and AMD computer chips... Sad

Veteran Joined: Jun 16, 2003 Posts: 268 Status: Offline

Acceleration Monitoring Assembly/Acceleration Monitoring Device. The Assembly is when the device is attached to the missile body assembly. Today they are primarily used for training, you may see them painted orange, this allows for enhanced visibility during air to air combat training missions. They are only used in training, not combat. No electrical connections are made between the pod and the aircraft.

You’re right there is very limited info on the net about these devices. Some people consider them as a device for symmetrical wing loading. Until I find a document that fully releases the capability/purpose of the pod, I will leave it at that.

Thanks Loader - so without getting anyone in trouble, are these pods then used to track the aircraft on the ACM range? I thought the ACMI pod did that.

Symmetrical wing loading makes sense but wouldn't explain the chin mounts...

Veteran Joined: Jun 16, 2003 Posts: 268 Status: Offline

No, not like an ACMI pod.

I'm trying to search for a related topic on the FAS site, if it is there, I"ll post and it may help explain.

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Adversary/Aggressor Chin Pod Designation