Super F-16

General Dynamics are working to develop a “super” F-161 that on paper would virtually relegate the standard F-16A to second-rate status.

The new model, named Scamp (supersonic cruise aircraft modification program), features a new wing profile that effectively doubles wing area and enables a doubling of internal fuel capacity and the number of underwing weapons attachment points compared with the current F-16A. Looking not dissimilar to the Saab Draken in planform the Scamp would provide an increase of 125 per cent in air-to-air combat mission radius with a doubling of the supersonic cruise portion of an air-to-air intercept. Moreover, the Scamp would attain speeds in the order of Mach 2.5 (comparable to the F-15 and F-4) as against barely Mach 2.0 for the current F-16A.

In the air-to-ground profile, the Scamp would offer a 120 per cent increase in mission radius carrying nearly double the payload while take-off and landing distances would be reduced by as much as a third. General Dynamics also claims that the Scamp would be able to penetrate at low level around 100kts faster than the current aircraft greatly reducing the overall damage risk by SAMs and radar-directed AAA. It is also stated that manoeuvrability would be improved to the point where double or triple the gun firing opportunities would be presented in a typical dogfight. In addition to this vast performance improvement, the Scamp would retain 90 per cent commonality with the existing production F-16A.

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