Forum: General F-16 forum

Hello all,

Cfr. the F-16.net news article <a href="news_article1983.html">First combat kill with Python 5</a>

The F-16 in that shot the UAV down is Barak 364 (87-1672) of 110th Squadron/Northern Knights.

Some Israeli Baraks - including 364 - are now wearing the Block-40/42-type scab-platings.

Greetings,

Henrik.

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

By any chance, anyone knows if the IAF Viper is wearing a "UAV kill mark"?

cheers,

Claiming a kill on a UAV is like kissing your sister.

More like hitting a man in a wheelchair. Or actually just a wheelchair.
Still, the missile does what it is made for, and that’s what’s important isn’t it.

Pumpkin wrote:

By any chance, anyone knows if the IAF Viper is wearing a "UAV kill mark"?

cheers,

Yes, it is. Don't have a picture though. Sorry.

DogF16 wrote:

Claiming a kill on a UAV is like kissing your sister.

Unless your sister is hot...

Razz

i think it would have more sense to use the M61gun to this puprose, don't you?

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

DogF16 wrote:

Claiming a kill on a UAV is like kissing your sister.

well, not so much an aeronautical engineer or a fighter pilot myself. But given the size of a UAV, to spot the target and acquire a lock should be quite a difficult task, not to mention the pilot made a high off-boresight kill. Also taking consideration of the Viper stall speed vs the slow flying UAV (and what is the heat signature of a UAV.. Rolling Eyes

), I was under the impression, calling a fox 2 on UAV is much difficult than on a fighter jet.

Steve_Davies wrote:

Yes, it is. Don't have a picture though. Sorry.

Thanks Steve_Davies, would be nice to see one. If my memories serve, PAF Viper made a claim of UAV (Israel made) kill with a AIM-9 sometime back. I wonder if PAF too has a kill marking.

cheers,

I'm amazed at the amount of effort and the type of weaponary (Python 5) the israeli's used to shoot down a UAV and that too in broad daylight with AWACS and all.

According to an IAF general the IAF had to maintain an exceptional state of alert. The PAF on the other hand shot down an Indian UAV at night with a single F-16 and that too 1980,s vintage "A" model using AIM-9L Sidewinder backed by equally vintage GCI radars. and mind you the pilot had no night vision device for visual acquisition nor an HMS for off bore shooting!!! So much for the professionalism of the IAF.

Well don PAF! Very Happy

Neno wrote:

i think it would have more sense to use the M61gun to this puprose, don't you?

The link just says "off the coast", but not how far (COMMSEC engaged). I'm also guessin' it was the Israeli coast (again...no info). So depending on the jet's approach vector (perhaps coming in from the sea?) and the target's proximity to the coast, you could get stray shells goin' downrange and hitting "unintended targets" if you use the gun. So to eliminate that, he opted for the missile instead. More accurate with less of a debris footprint.

With the unique situation was not an easy task at all.
1. Small object
2. Low heat signature
3. The missile had to turn 180 degrees (yes, a U turn)

Despite all the above fact the python 5 managed to shoot it down.
so, is it stat of the art missile or what?

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

raider wrote:

I'm amazed at the amount of effort and the type of weaponary (Python 5) the israeli's used to shoot down a UAV and that too in broad daylight with AWACS and all.

raider, according to this Israeli news article, the Hizbullah UAV was intercepted in the night time. Given that the Ababil can be potentially employed as a cruise missile, I guess it was considered a priority high target.

I stand to be corrected, no present HMS fielded has either buildin NVS or can be retrofitted with NVG. If the Ababil was indeed shot down at night. My guess is, it was tracked prior by the LITENING. (Come to think about it, I don't remember seeing the IAF C Viper carrying LITENING often.)

Not sure if I follow the last line on the AWACS. I believe there is presently no AWACS in IDF/AF inventory.

raider wrote:

According to an IAF general the IAF had to maintain an exceptional state of alert. The PAF on the other hand shot down an Indian UAV at night with a single F-16 and that too 1980,s vintage "A" model using AIM-9L Sidewinder backed by equally vintage GCI radars. and mind you the pilot had no night vision device for visual acquisition nor an HMS for off bore shooting!!! So much for the professionalism of the IAF.

The PAF's kill was indeed impressive. I believe it is difficult for any FCR to detect & acquire a slow flying UAV, let alone the old APG-66.

cheers,