Quote:
Originally Posted by Panther Al
Actually, I can see the F16 getting shopped around to other Air Forces, even when the shooting starts. Not the others, like the 15's, and 14's, even the 18's, though that is a maybe.
The F16 was designed, along with the FA18, to be simple, cheap, and easy to build, they wasn't supposed to be overly complex aircraft. The FA18 pushes that envelope, but isn't near as complex as either a F14 or F15. I can't recall where, but I remember it being said that with the F16 that during the design process there was a good deal of effort to build in a capability to be produced in immense numbers in a wartime situation. So, given the slow build up to war, then the warmup act over in China, I can easily see GD and Lockmark being tapped to really ramp up production.
|
I agree, the F-16 is a modern, agile and highly capable tactical fighter, but its not an air superiority fighter/bomber like the F-15, and its neither as expensive or as compex to build, maintain and fly. This is part of the reason I have the RAF flying F-16s in my orbat. I would love to have given the RAF an F-15C wing, put that would be pushing things a bit too far.