[underwiredsupport]

Israel's new F-16I fighter/bomber

Range includes targets in Iran and Libya

The Sufa jet has an unrefueled combat strike radius well in excess of 500 miles. The extended flight range enables the IAF to attack targets well within Iran and Libya without having to refuel.

The Sufa is powered by the Pratt and Whitney F100-PE-229 Improved Performance Engine. The aircraft is designed for gross takeoff gross weight of 23,582 kilograms (52,000 lbs), which means it can haul more weaponry than the F-16. The weapons engineer, sitting behind the pilot, "flies the bombs" down to the targets once they are released.

The Sufa has been customized with new avionic technologies, internally mounted FLIR (forward looking infrared) viewers, and cutting edge weapon system hardware provided by the Israeli defense company Lahav - a division of Israel Aircraft Industries.

The Lahav technology will allow for simultaneous, multi-target air-to-air engagement and increased standoff and survivability capabilities. The F-16I has been earmarked to receive the new Python 5 imaging infrared-guided high agility air-to-air missile produced by Rafael, the former Israeli Armaments Development Authority.

Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI)
Makes wings, tail sections, inline fuel tanks, satellite communications systems, and tactical data communications systems.

Elbit Systems
Makes the head-up display (HUD), helmet display, mission computer, presentation computer and digital map, elevators, ailerons, fuselage stabilizers, and doors.

Rafael
Makes the avionics suit, ground following algorithm software, and communications equipment.

Elisra Electronic Systems
Makes the defense suit against radar locking, radar-guided and heat-seeking missiles.

BAE Systems Rokar International
Makes external heat dissipaters and flares.

Rada Electronic Industries
Makes ground debriefing systems.

Radar is American, not Israeli
Israeli Air Force officials are "frustrated" over the Defense Ministry's agreeing to allow the F-16I jets to be equipped with American-made radar.

Northrop Grumman's AN/APG-68(V)9 multimode radar will enable crews to detect airborne threats from a range 30% greater than the existing APG-69 system and adds a synthetic-aperture radar mode for high-resolution ground mapping.

[F14 Pilot]

Iran Became Most Dangerous Government

[Termite_Commander]

Exciting times in which we live.

But then, maybe exciting is an inappropriate word.

[SevenMinusOne]

Israel cannot accomplish taking out Iran's nuclear threat on their own - They don't have the needed SEAD or logistic aircraft (not to mention no F-117's). Unless they plan on a "one way trip" for many of their finest pilots. Not a real good solution for Israel in either the short or long term.

For Israel to be successful they would need a joint U.S. operation. However, this would play extremely bad in the Arab / Muslim world.....thus offsetting many of our recent gains.

If and when Iran is taken on via a military option it will come from a mostly U.S. strike (with no direct Israel involvement) - A few NATO Nations will be along as well.

The current situation leaves no real good military option however. But the clock is ticking down until we'll have to play the hand that is dealt us.

That time is not here yet though.

[Toidylop]

More of F16i photos here

[massgopguy]

Noe THAT'S a Mitzvah!

[Steveone]

Oop's sorry I meant you thanks!

[Grzegorz 246]

"Israeli Air Force officials are "frustrated" over the Defense Ministry's agreeing to allow the F-16I jets to be equipped with American-made radar."

Why ?

[bobjam]

For this to work for Tehran, strategists must assume that either the initial strike will be devastating enough to prevent a conventional or nuclear counterattack by Israel, or that Israel's rumored nuclear arsenal is just a bluff and doesn't really exist.

The next step would be dealing with a response from America and Europe. It would be logical for them to conclude that Europe will respond only with a conventional attack, if any attack at all. They may also believe that we will not have the stomach to "nuke Iranian civilians because of their government" (and they would be correct).

[bobjam]

For this to work for Tehran, strategists must assume that either the initial strike will be devastating enough to prevent a conventional or nuclear counterattack by Israel, or that Israel's rumored nuclear arsenal is just a bluff and doesn't really exist.

The next step would be dealing with a response from America and Europe. It would be logical for them to conclude that Europe will respond only with a conventional attack, if any attack at all. They may also believe that we will not have the stomach to "nuke Iranian civilians because of their government" (and they would be correct).

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

Who's airspace are these aircraft going to fly over. If you say Iraq, I think that presents huge problems for us. Iraq is now a sovereign country, and if we let the Israelis fly over Iraq, without Iraqi support (never happen), it will show the Iraqis and the world that the USA does not recognize Iraqi sovereignty.
Israel does have missiles that it could launch from Subs or Israel. I don't know enough about those capabilities to opine if Iran's nuke facilities could be destroyed.

[dennisw]

Thanks for info on the F-16I. How many bunker busters can it carry? Three bombing waves may be needed with each wave penetrating deeper. Plus how many of these aircraft does Israel have?

TIME HAS COME TODAY!
Watch out Iran with all your hollow boasting and threats of genocide

[Thunder90]

HOw about the F-22. It could use a combat test.