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Can the F-16 store as many weapons as the F-35? I have been looking at a poster and the F-35 can store quite alot of things. It would be great if you let me know.

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Parkeran

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to the best of my knowlege the F-16 is cleared for any air to ground weapon the weighs less than 3000 lbs. And IIRC the B-52 is cleared for everything bigger than a Maverick except the cargo plane dropped weps (ie daisy cutter, Moab)

Enthusiast Joined: May 31, 2005 Posts: 69 Status: Offline

Are you asking if the F-16 can carry as many stores at one time as the F-35 or if the F-35 has integrated as many weapons as the F-16?

sprtsdlyscottsmn: "cleared" is ambiguous. Every store configuration on the F-16 must be certified as safe to carry by Seek Eagle (in a couple of FMS cases, LM Aero did the certification). This certification will include carriage and deployment envelopes that should not be exceeded. Not every A-G weapon configuration has received such a certification. In addition, weapons must be integrated on the F-16, which usually entails a change in the aircraft software. Again, not every A-G weapon has been integrated on the F-16. You are correct in the larger sense that there's a rule-of-thumb saying the F-16 can support any store less than 3000 lbs, but Have Lite is the only weapon I can think of off the top of my head that approaches that figure.

I was refering to the certifications youre talking about. I know that certain weps can only be used in conjuction of certain other weps.

Newbie Joined: Jul 14, 2006 Posts: 18 Status: Offline

Don't be fooled by pictures. The first operational (Air Force) F-35 will carry less than a hand full of air to ground ordnance types. Like everything, it costs money to integrate weapons onto an aircraft. As it matures, more will be added. A lot of ordnance will never be integrated (dumb bombs) because they wouldn't be tactically useful. The first Marine Corp F-35 will carry even less in order to be fielded sooner.

F-16.net Editor Joined: Sep 23, 2003 Posts: 2848

F16wedge wrote:

Don't be fooled by pictures. The first operational (Air Force) F-35 will carry less than a hand full of air to ground ordnance types. Like everything, it costs money to integrate weapons onto an aircraft. As it matures, more will be added. A lot of ordnance will never be integrated (dumb bombs) because they wouldn't be tactically useful. The first Marine Corp F-35 will carry even less in order to be fielded sooner.

Good reading all. Welcome to the forum F-16wedge.

Enthusiast Joined: Sep 28, 2006 Posts: 59 Status: Offline

What I worried is how F-35 can load as big as this

if F-35 have to load big externally like this, where would stealth being?

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Forum: F-16 Armament & Stores

F-16 Stores vs F-35 Stores