Conformal Fuel Tanks for our F-16s?
-
I wonder, is there any possibility of having ST Aero install conformal fuel tankss on our current F-16Cs and Ds?
just a brief primer...
Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) are additional fuel tanks, fitted closely to the profile of an aircraft, which extend either range of an aircraft or time on station with little aerodynamic penalties compared to the same capacity carried in external drop tanks.
The downside is that while external fuel tanks can be dropped when they are empty, conformal fuel tanks are "plumbed" into an aircraft and can only be removed on the ground. Conversely, when CFTs are empty the aircraft continues to suffer from the aerodynamic penalties with no benefit. However to use the F-16 as an example, an aircraft could carry a full weapons load and two 450 gallons CFTs; whereas an F-16 without CFTs would have to sacrifice at least two weapons pylons to carry drop tanks, i.e. either range or weapons load must be reduced.
CFTs also have the advantage of not signifcantly increasing an aircraft's Radar cross section (RCS) and allow a higher maximum speed than drop tanks.
yeah. so would installing CFTs on our current F-16s bring any advantage or disadvantage in our local context? I also heard that the Block 52+ models of the F-16 comes with CFTs...are any of the RSAF F-16s Block52+? -
UAE's F-16E Block 60 with CFTs...
-
Only for our Blk 52+ F-16Ds that base at changi east is equipped with CFTs