Uh, Hello, There Are No CFTs

The Pakistan government’s official new agency APP released the above photograph on October 13 to coincide with the rolling out of the first batch of 18 F-16C/D Block-52 fighters from Lockheed-Martin’s Fort Worth facilities. Obviously they didn’t check what the hell they were putting out. The F-16s that Pakistan is getting do not have conformal fuel tanks (CFTs). So far, F-16s of only the UAE, Israel and Greece have CFTs. The PAF is a professional fighting force. Their idiotic government shouldn’t make them look bad by pulling moronic ones like this.

47 thoughts on “Uh, Hello, There Are No CFTs”

  1. just because they don't put on CFTs for the rollout flight test doesn't mean the planes won't have it.

    CFTs can be put on and pulled off as per needs. You know that, don't you?

    call yourself a defence journalist?

  2. Shiv, we know that CFTs were included in the notification to the congress and approved. Can you please confirm that PAF did not ask for CFTs when they signed the contract? Although Greece's latest order was for advanced block 52+, yet the F-16 at the inauguration ceremony (March 2009) did not include any CFTs. Is is because Greece had not ordered any CFTs for this batch?

  3. 36 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs)

    Pakistan – F-16C/D Block 50/52 Aircraft

    http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2006/Pakistan_06-09.pdf

    Major Defense Equipment (MDE)
    36 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPEs) and APG-68(V)9 radars;
    7 spare F100-PW-229 IPE or F110-GE-129 IPE engines;
    7 spare APG-68(V)9 radar sets;
    36 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems;
    36 AN/ARC-238 SINCGARS radios with HAVE QUICK I/II;
    36 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs);
    36 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals;
    36 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems;
    36 APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe Systems;
    36 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites without Digital Radio
    Frequency Memory (DRFM) or AN/ALQ-184 Electronic Counter Measures pod without DRFM or AN/ALQ-131 Electronic Counter Measures pod without DRFM or AN/ALQ-187 Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suites without DRFM; or AN/ALQ-178 Self-Protection Electronic Warfare

  4. Yes, The first F-16D Block 52 which has was received by PAF cheif bears the number# 10801 does not have CFT's. All of these 18 aircraft would be delivered to them by December 2010.

  5. Pakistani F 16s Do have conformal fuel tanks. I meant they DO HAVE CFTS.

    "Item 1: 36 New F-16 Block 50/52s – $3 billion

    The package for Pakistan's new F-16s also includes:
    36 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPEs) and APG-68(V)9 radars;
    7 spare F100-PW-229 IPE or F110-GE-129 IPE engines;
    7 spare APG-68(V)9 radar sets;
    36 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS);
    36 AN/ARC-238 SINCGARS radios with HAVE QUICK I/II;

    36 Conformal Fuel Tanks (pairs) that fit along the aircraft's sides to give them extra range;

    36 Link-16 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals; DID has covered the tactical uses of MIDS-LVT Link 16 systems;
    36 Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation Systems;
    36 APX-113 Advanced Identification Friend or Foe Systems;
    36 Advanced Integrated Defensive Electronic Warfare Suites without Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM); or AN/ALQ-184 Electronic Counter Measures pod without DRFM; or AN/ALQ-131 Electronic Counter Measures pod without DRFM; or AN/ALQ-187 Advanced Self-Protection Integrated Suites without DRFM; or AN/ALQ-178 Self-Protection Electronic Warfare Suites without DRFM;
    1 Unit Level Trainer;"

    http://www.f-16.net/news_article1878.html

  6. Shiv can you please tell us why the LM has called PAF F-16 50 block as –
    "It is the latest configuration of the best 4th generation multirole fighter available in the world today," said John Larson, vice president of F-16 programs for Lockheed Martin.
    Can you provide spec. for F-16 50 block vs F-16IN please.

  7. there are conformal tanks right there!!! – next to the cockpit on either side painted in blue-dirty yellow-blue – its above the wings instead of the usual position under the wings on this f16.
    too bad paf is getting more of these – i hope there are end user agreements with US against the use of these planes against India and can turn them off when needed – if f** not, why would we buy their planes (f18)?

  8. I don't think the smile is correct…

    It says "view of block52D" not a PAF F16… If you know your planes then you should know that it is an Greek F16D…

    And if you are so well informed maybe you can explain why they ordered 36 of these CFT's (so for 18 planes since you need 2 on each plane) ? It is on the official order list. Like any other test/qualification the F16c/d start without the conformals… You could also say that the plane had no AMRAAM… Does that mean they will not get it? Shiv… I had expected more from someone that is well informed like you.

  9. Are you sure about this Shiv? Because, yesterday as I was surfing on the pakistani website http://www.defence.pk.com, they were displaying a picture of the F-16 with the CFTs flying in Pakistani markings. Might have been photoshopped but don't know.

    Also, I learnt from an article on the blog 'Broadsword' that most of UAEs F-16s are anyway flown by Paki pilots on deputation. Could it be possible that UAE has sent a few of these F-16s to Pakistan on deputation, which are being flown in Pakistani markings?

  10. the image of the f-16 shown behind the idiotic paf chief shows that the f-16s do NOT have CFTs. so this is correct. pakis dont deserve anything useless bugggers.

  11. PAF's 18 Block 52 F-16s (12 F-16Cs and 6 F-16Ds) will ALL HAVE CFTs. The CFTs are removable items and will be fitted on all 18 F-16s when they are delivered to Pakistan. The CFT wasn't fitted to the roll-out aircraft, that's all.

  12. you porkis are so stupid. shiv was just trying to rile you guys. and you bit his bait and started fretting and fuming! i think shiv has very subtly proved his point (if that was his intention). you guys keep obsessing with your stupid CFTs. we'll go on ahead, thanks. and you heard what rahul gandhi said recently. "we pay too much attention to pakistan. it does not deserve so much attention. it is a small piece of land." HAHAHAHA. i have new respect for rahul gandhi after this.

  13. The F-16s will bomb cowering Indians flat after tearing your fighter screen apart, coming in from one big loop from the sea with 1.5 times the fuel and only 6% more drag, and I will be giggling because it proves once again that American > Russian again.

    F-16 = 76 combat kills with no loss.
    Su-30 MKI = 0 combat kills

    Wait for it!

    And I'm not even Pakistani, just idiot-hater.

  14. Rahul is not a defence journalist since he doesn't even know anything about CFTs, he should stick to stick to selling his backside and full lips.

  15. To the idiot-hating idiot @ 3.04 p.m.:

    A few questions relating to the below post – "The F-16s will bomb cowering Indians flat after tearing your fighter screen apart, coming in from one big loop from the sea with 1.5 times the fuel and only 6% more drag".

    1)Granted that a few piddling F-16s will tear apart the fighter screen. But what about the IAF AWACs' which will see your F-16s take-off from their airbases? Come from the sea… yeah right…What about the Indian Navy P-8is which will be monitoring the Paki balls and pass on the info to the Mig-29Ks? What about the SAMs which will be waiting for the F-16s.
    2)Or will each of those F-16s have the words "1.5 times the fuel and only 6% more drag" painted on their sides in big white letters so that the IAF pilots get scared and let them through?

    Shiv, I'm really enjoying this. Occasionally you should have some flame threads like this where we can all let off some steam. But on a more serious note… nip flame starters in the bud Boss, your blog doesn't need such trash.

  16. Saddle tanks or CFTs can be mounted without any major mod to a Blk50 and above Viper. Is it just me or does that picture look like a Hellenic Viper?

  17. Saddle tanks or CFTs can be mounted without any major mod to a Blk50 and above Viper. Is it just me or does that picture look like a Hellenic Viper?

  18. There is a reason the F-16 is the world's most popular 4th gen fighter you know. It is the dogfighter par excellence with the best visibility, an extremely high thrust to weight ratio and a supreme roll rate.

    Now match that with the world's best military avionics. Do you think that a few sick Bisons and the already obsolete Mig-29 or the navally impaired Mig-29k or the outmatched, unupgraded M2000 are going to stop it? The four F-16 C/Ds to be delivered early next year will be the most advanced fighter in Western Asia, and the Pakis know it. With just 18 F-16s, and 35 upgraded Vipers they are going to crush your navy with long range HARM and Harpoon missiles followed in by LGBs. All your naval aerial assets are going to get blown away by AMRAAM-C5s. Then the F-16 will raid deep along India's coast, perhaps even deploying nukes.

    India does not have the jets besides the MKI to block the incredible F-16 and if just a few dozen can tie up a large chunk of your MKIs, probing your airspace endlessly while the rest of your fighters stand by uselessly, they would already have reached aerial parity and taken away your advantage in numbers.

    Don't talk to me about your stupid AWACs ok. How many do you have, and what is the availability given the Mainstay airframe. The CFTs do offer additional 0.5 times the fuel with only 0.06 times more drag. An incredible achievement and an innovative design.

    Look how servile you are when you talk to Shiv. The reason why Indians have been bowing and scraping to Afghans and whites for centuries.

  19. "The reason why Indians have been bowing and scraping to Afghans and whites for centuries."

    – And where are those mighty Afghans and whites today O' Vincent?…. Today the Afghans are safely quaranteed in 'Afghanistan' where they live-off on our scraps and do our bidding in Pakistan. The whites?! Today they are currently back home in London and are currently scurrying around for the scraps which fall off the table from our massive MMRCA, AJT contracts.

    You see kid… we Indians have always had the last laugh. So either you laugh with us or you'll be crying with the others!

    Thank you O Great Shiv for allowing me – your serville servant, to post on thine Holy blog. Hail Shiv!

  20. Vincent the Virus! we dont need any lectures from you about how good F-16 a/c is! no body and for that matter shiv has not made any comments on the quality and ability of F-16..pukis cant win the war openly! thats why they resort to sending terrorists targeting indian economic zones,printing fake currency and sending it thro' all borders sorrounding india! Paki govt has no confidence on its war machines and fighting abilities of its own armed forces! thats why they resort these kind of clandestine bleeding acts! they are saving them selves with the nukes made by the CHOR KHAN!

  21. your view about paf is unwated shiv….f-16 indeed is a very good fighter jet…capable to resist sukhoi u believe or not….when our figter palnes r falling from the sky so often,we r not in a position to laugh at pakis…and mrca is a never ending process….

  22. Well lookie here Y'all! Vincent the Fart has predicted an overwhelming victory for the Porkis. Quick! run for your lives! The problem with kids like Vincent who try to stretch their childish brain beyond diapers and cereals, is that they forget that wars are multi-dimensional events where multiple players from one side are at work simultaneously to thwart the other side.

    A case in point is the 1971 war. The bloody Porkis tried to gain the upper-hand over us by using the one force they revered then (and even now too!) — the great PAF! True, they had good jets with missiles fitted, good flyers and tactics… they basically did kick our ass in the sky most of the time. But the poor fools forgot/neglected/abandoned their army, their navy and their diplomatic corps… the result?!!… we Indians though licked in one dept, got our shit together in all the other dimensions of the war and kicked Porki butt big time! Ditto in '99 too.

    So if retards out there think that because of one particular acquisition of the PAF we should hang up our boots and hand over our country to the Porkis on a platter, they better wake up now… or they never will!

    I would like to stick around Vinnie the Poo, but you're causing such a stink that I just can't take it.

  23. Wow! One does learn new things everyday! Today's lessons taught us that:

    1. Pakistan is in Western Asia

    2. The F-16 blk 52 will be the most advanced fighter in Western Asia – superior, I suppose, to the Sufa, Desert Falcon, and Typhoon.

    3. MiG-29Ks are "navally impaired". Does this mean they have bad navels? Dunno…

    4. HARMs and LGBs are used for crushing navies.

    5. Aircraft are like humans. They can fall sick and act stupid.

    6. AWACs is plural for AWAC. There is no such thing as AWACS.

  24. CFT or no CFT…I know one thing for sure
    THAT IS NOT TEXAS
    I live in Texas (Ft. Worth to be precise), and THAT IS NOT TX

  25. "The reason why Indians have been bowing and scraping to Afghans and whites for centuries."

    Ha ha Vincent – now you Americans have the opportunity to bow to the Afghan resistance. Afghans have defeated all invaders in the past and will give the same treatment to US forces that Vietnamese did earlier.

    Maybe your F-16 fighters will give you cover when your army retreats from Afghanistan? Very useful!

  26. Shiv! Don't contradict yourself. Why wouldn't an idiotic govt. NOT pull moronic stunts.
    They are bound to, actually. Hardwired, if you please.

  27. CFT will increase RCS, but upto what extent?

    adding CFT exposes the design flaw/ shortcomings of original f16/ either they want to also promote this as deep penetration striker instead of air defense.

  28. To Anon @ 7.36

    I agree. I wish you'd stay away.

    PS: It's bad form to announce your arrival in those terms but then how would you know.

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