F-16 AIM-7 Capability

Was their any thought about using the ADF in the Gulf War? The two ANG squadrons sent where both block 10. Given that the Viper needed escort because it lacked AMRAAM I was curious. Apparently Italian ADF where used this way in Libya.

Can't speak for the other ANG interceptor squadrons that transitioned to the ADF Viper. But for the 171FIS, they had their F-4D Phantom final flight in the summer of 1990. I think they started to get their first F-16 jets in Sept/Oct. Yet, the first ones that I remember seeing were still basically unmodified Block 15's -aka they lacked for the most part the swelled tail fairing, IFF bird slicers, and I don't even know if at that time they could fire the Aim-7. Even by late 1991, there still seemed to be some unmodified jets flying together with fully modified ones. (it was over 30yrs. ago and I am trying my best to remember)

And as Basher said, the first jets doing air defense for Desert Shield/Storm were the Eagles. I think they deployed just a few days after the Iraqi invasion. I guess if the AF needed other squadrons for air defense, they probably would have called up ADTAC units like the 48FIS, again another F-15 unit. Or they might have used the ANG interceptor Eagle units like ones form Massachusetts or Georgia. In addition for the mission, the F-15 could carry 4 Sparrows and it had a longer range radar.

Was their any thought about using the ADF in the Gulf War? The two ANG squadrons sent where both block 10. Given that the Viper needed escort because it lacked AMRAAM I was curious. Apparently Italian ADF where used this way in Libya.

Can't speak for the other ANG interceptor squadrons that transitioned to the ADF Viper. But for the 171FIS, they had their F-4D Phantom final flight in the summer of 1990. I think they started to get their first F-16 jets in Sept/Oct. Yet, the first ones that I remember seeing were still basically unmodified Block 15's -aka they lacked for the most part the swelled tail fairing, IFF bird slicers, and I don't even know if at that time they could fire the Aim-7. Even by late 1991, there still seemed to be some unmodified jets flying together with fully modified ones. (it was over 30yrs. ago and I am trying my best to remember)

And as Basher said, the first jets doing air defense for Desert Shield/Storm were the Eagles. I think they deployed just a few days after the Iraqi invasion. I guess if the AF needed other squadrons for air defense, they probably would have called up ADTAC units like the 48FIS, again another F-15 unit. Or they might have used the ANG interceptor Eagle units like ones form Massachusetts or Georgia. In addition for the mission, the F-15 could carry 4 Sparrows and it had a longer range radar.

https://www.fstudiosweb.com/f-16adf-fig ... ssic-white

Michigan "6 Pack" 171st Fighter Interceptor Squadron, 191st Fighter Interceptor Group, 81-0719 and 80-0542

2 F-16s from the 171st FIS, 191 FIG, Michigan Air National Guard "Michigan Six Pack". The original 81-0719 and 80-0542 were F-16A Block 15E ADFs. The Air Defense Fighter (ADF) Variant were specially built for the Air National Guard's Interceptor mission and were the only U.S. F-16 variant capable of carrying the AIM-7 Sparrow.

USAF 81-0719 and 80-0542 from 171 FIS, 191 FIG, Michigan Air National Guard.