F-16 weapons in picture Q

[Gerard]

I've just seen this picture on-line, and am wondering about the weapons.

The 2 CBU on the underwing TER seem unusual to me. Ok, they're white, which I more normally associate with USN CBU's, rather than USAF.

Been a while since I've seen white CBU's on USAF planes, apart from the A-10.

The forward stripe is yellow which means a live weapon, and the one next to it is blue, which means practice / inert.

So, could it be some form of leaflet payload, rather than the normal CBU bomblets ?

http://www.airfighters.com/photo/79129/L/U...Falcon/92-3910/

Also seen recent pics of "SW" F-16CJ's with asymetric loadouts - AGM-88 HARM under one wing, and 2x GBU-38 500 lb JDAMs on a twin ( not TER ) rack under the other.

Regards,

Gerard

[DaveJL]

I think they're PDU-5B leaflet dispensers. Used in Iraq and over libya recently. Not sure about the HARM/GBU-38 combo, but have seen a Maverick/GBU-38 mixture.

Dave

[Gerard]

Dave,

Thanks for that info.

I've seen asymetric loadouts on F-16's before - normally 2 x GBU-12 on a TER, 2 x GBU-38 on a twin BRU-xx rack, 1 x GBU-31 - combinations of 2 of those, but never one that included a single AGM-88.

Regards,

Gerard

[DaveJL]

The asymetric loadouts seem to be the norm on most jets these days -F/A-18's, F-15E's and so on. Probably due to the rigours of close air support i would imagine.

Dave

[scotthldr]

Yip they are PDU=5B's leaflet dispensers

Would like to see the pics of the F-16 with the twin rack and GBU38's. Not quite sure why they would carry a AGM88 on CAS missions

Came across the twin pylon while searching for something else. It's s BRU-57/A

Some info here

http://www.f-16.net/news_article1040.html

and pics here

http://www.zone-five.net/showthread.php?t=3624

Edited July 25, 2011 by scotthldr

[Gerard]

Scott,

Here are the best 2 that I've seen so far:

http://www.airfighters.com/photo/76841/L/U...Falcon/91-0345/

http://www.airfighters.com/photo/76840/L/U...Falcon/91-0372/

So, 2 x AIM-120C, 2 x AIM-9M, 2 x fuel, 1 x ALQ-1xx, HTS, Sniper, 1 x AGM-88, 2 x GBU-38

I think that they're operating over Libya, so need to be prepared for anything.

Regards,

Gerard

[DaveJL]

The HARM/GBU-38 loadout must be for the SEAD/DEAD (suppression/destruction of enemy air defences) role - use the HARM to knock out the radar then use the GBU-38's to destroy the missile systems.

[Gerard]

Dave,

Good point there. I'd been thinking of it more as for emergency use during a CAS mission. I certainly agree about the need to destroy actual launchers as well as radars / C&C trucks. Too easy to regenerate a battery if you keep a couple of radars safe, and have several left-over launchers.

Not sure how much SAM / AAA / radar is left there though, but a missed ZSU-23-4 could be a disaster, so a AGM-88 is useful.

Regards,

Gerard

[scotthldr]

Ah yes Libya, forgot about that place, makes sense now.

[DaveJL]

they must have worked in tandem with the E/A-18G's that were deployed