Identify the load.

[Red aRRow]

Wing tips shouldn't be difficult But what about the other hard points? Mainly the right side No.2 hard point (next to the wing tip), the center line hard point and the forward center point (below the air intake).

 

[gf0012-aust]

(Stations)
1 (rails): AIM-120C AMRAAM
2 ACM pod or link pod (???????)
8 AIM-9M Sidewinder
4 360 gallon external fuel/drop tanks
6 360 gallon external fuel/drop tanks
5 (centerline): ALQ-131 ECM pod
9 (rails): AIM-120C AMRAAM

 

[Aussie Digger]

The pylon below the air intake appears to be carrying a LANTIRN targeting pod, as per usual on US F-16's, though it could be some other targeting pod, or even a Nav pod.

 

[Red aRRow]

Pretty good gf. Thanks for the reply.

Station 2 intrigues me. I've never seen that thing before.
Also on the starboard chin station... is it the LANTIRN navigation pod(AN/AAQ13)?? [Didn't read ADs reply before posting this message]

 

[highsea]

Looks like AN/ASQ-213 HTS (HARM Targeting System) on the stb. intake station. Kind of hard to see with the nose gear door in the way.

 

[Red aRRow]

Hmmmm....what is that on station 2?? :?

I mean it can't be a missile... since it lacks any control surfaces. Most probably ECM/ACM thingy due to the antennas protruding out from the front. However any specifics anyone?

Oh and thanks highsea. :

 

[highsea]

Station 2 is a URITS pod. (USAFE Rangeless Instrumentation System )

It's a training pod. Normally this viper would have another AIM-9M there and HARM's on 3 and 7. Standard Wild Weasel configuration.

 

[Red aRRow]

Thanks highsea. I can sleep soundly tonight.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Is that a HARM targetting pod then? It would make sense if this is an F-16C/J then, I guess...

 

[gf0012-aust]

Final Verdict appears to be:

1 (rails): AIM-120C AMRAAM
2 URITS pod. (USAFE Rangeless Instrumentation System )
3
4 360 gallon external fuel/drop tanks
5 (centerline): ALQ-131 ECM pod
6 360 gallon external fuel/drop tanks
7
8 AIM-9M Sidewinder
9 (rails): AIM-120C AMRAAM

 

[Red aRRow]

GF you forgot the Starboard chin point

 

[highsea]

Here's a little info on this particular AC:

Local S/N: 91-399,
Version: F-16C Block 50
Entered Service: Nov. 24 1993
Airforce/Unit: USAF 13th FS 'WW'

It was deployed in Operation Southern Watch, where it was responsible for the destruction of an Iraqi SAM site.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Ye after some research it's definitely the AN/ASQ-213 Harm Targeting pod.

You can see similar pods mounted on the right side (of the aircraft under the air intake).

 

[gf0012-aust]

feedback from an aviation journo re this:

1 = AIM-120C
2 = AIM-9M
3 = empty HARM rack
4 = 370gal
5 = ALQ-119 Electronic Jamming Pod
5R = AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System (HTS)
6 = 370gal
7 = empty HARM rack
8 = an ACMI pod used over instrumented ranges (e.g. Nellis, Eglin, Sardinia) to record the fight for real time review back at the CAOC.
9 = AIM-120C

 

[highsea]

Ah yes, we had the wing station numbers backwards didn't we?

The reason I called the pod on #8 a URITS vs. ACMI is that it is a Wild Weasel configuration, and URITS are the newer USAF version used in ground attack training. They basically do the same thing, but the ACMI pod has a longer communication range, and so is used more in DACT where longer distances are involves over calibrated ranges.

You can't really tell by looking at them (at least I can't), because they look virtually identical, (especially after they are painted gray) : The advantage that the URITS has over ACMI is that it doesn't require a calibrated range, but it can't give real time feedback over about 60nm from the tower.

I concur on the jamming pod, it looks more like the ALQ119 than the ALQ131. But it looks like it has an additional sensor on the very bottom of the pod that isn't normal on either the ALQ119 or the ALQ131, so maybe it's an update?

I dug up another pic of the same AC with an ACMI pod on station #9 and dummy sidewinders on #2 and #8 (It's a shot of the AC taking off from Nellis on the way to Red Flag 03), but I didn't want to confuse the issue.

Edit to add: I am going to call the ECM pod the AN/ALQ-184 rather than the ALQ119. Here is a link with a pic:

http://www.raytheon.com/products/alq184/