'Pak F-16 fighter jets capable of shooting down CIA drones'

maybe the Paki’s know if they try we’ll “throw the off switch” on their F16’s causing a high priced “hole in the ground” ;-)

I think there is very little American can actually do if Pakistan decides to take down a drone. The US is not officially at war with Pakistan and Pakistan is well within her right to defend her airspace if they so choose to go after American drones. Also US is using drones to make sneak attacks in the first place instead of full blown air raid with heavier aircrafts because officially we are not conduction any operation over Pakistani airspace. That in itself limits American options in the event of a hostile Pakistani response.

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Lazamataz is hanging by a pixel!

I am not sure that F16 fire control radar could lock on any of the present drones in use. Very small radar cross section due both to small size and nonmetallic materials that make up these drones. The pilot would have to “eye-ball” (I doubt if there is even a simple cross-hair gun-sight installed!)his 20 mm gun at the drone by pointing the nose of the aircraft at the drone. Doing this and still trying to avoid stall speed. All I can say is good luck with that!

In reality, drones are actually quite easy to shoot down. Very easy. Also, their small size (and a Predator/Reaper, and particularly the Global Hawk, are not exactly small ...but anyways, small size) doesn't necessarily equate to a small RCS. RCS reduction (to a dbsm level that is practical enough to be considered 'stealthy') is a component of primarily shaping (to deflect radio waves) and RAM materials (to absorb radio waves). A much larger airframe that has the requisite shaping and materials (like the B-2 Spirit) can have a significantly smaller RCS in m2 than a MUCH smaller airframe like the Northrop F-5. Also, just because an airframe uses non-metallic materials doesn't exactly give it the attributes of an airframe that has true radar absorbent material/coating plus shaping. E.g., just because the upcoming 787 Dreamliner has a lot of carbon fiber reinforced plastic doesn't mean it gets a stealthy RCS and, after sticking a bomb bay on it, can be used as a poor man's stealth bomber (or, considering the costs and delays of the plane, maybe not a poor man's bomber after all).

A pilot does not need to 'eye ball' a Predator to bring it down ....he can shoot it down with an IR/IIR missile, or if he doesn't even want to waste fuel getting within infra-red range simply fire a radar-guided missile at it. No need to use the gun.

The problem with your post is that you stated 'present drones' in use. Those include the Predator, Reaper and Global Hawk (plus a good number of smaller targeting and other drones). All of those are targets unless the airspace is sanitized. Now, future drones like the X-47 and other stealthy drones will be able to fly higher, and will be created from the get-go to be stealthy (some in the works will allegedly be very stealthy). Now, those may be far more difficult to shoot down, and moreover they may be part of an attack force that includes F-22s for example (meaning a Pakistani F-16 trying to muck about may get a nasty surprise from an 'empty' sky). However, current drones are anything but invincible.

For instance, the USAF has shot down a drone (an MQ-9 Reaper) with a manned plane, Saddam shot down two drones (MQ-1 Predators) in different occasions using MiG-25s. If the Pakistanis wanted to shoot down Predators/Reapers, particularly with the swanky new F-16 Block 52s that the US so kindly gave to them (and one wonders why nations like India view the US suspiciously ...although I guess those AMRAAMs that came with the Vipers are for use against Al Queda's flying carper airforce and not against India's jets, and that those same missiles ...particularly their advanced seekers .....will not find their way to China even though China is Pakistan's primary ally) ...but I digress, Pakistani F-16s can very easily shoot down any of the current drones. They will not do so because of all the aid they receive from the US, but current drones do not have a small RCS and a pilot doesn't need to eyeball them to stick a missile up their behind ...even Soviet era A2A missiles used by Saddam's former airforce were more than up to the task.

All it needs is a red “eye” sweeping back and forth.