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October 16, 2006
Israeli F-16I Sufa ~ Israel's Choice Aircraft
If the Iranian nuclear facilities are ever taken out, it will be the Israelis who do it, and this is the plane they will use.
This is the Israeli F-16I Sufa (‘Storm') made at Lockheed Martin's production line in Texas.
It is Israel 's choice of aircraft to take out the Iranian atomic weapons factory. They have conformal fuel tanks that frees up three under wing hard points for ordinance. You'll see the beauty of the design when you see a photo of the aircraft with the exterior conformal fuel tanks. We are already delivering two of them per month to Israel . They do not have to wait until they have them all to strike.
If you like cool airplanes then open up the web site for the F-16I Sufa (‘Storm') At their web site they have many more photos and also an extended write up of the plane.
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) chose to acquire the latest version of the world renowned Lockheed Martin F-16 over additional purchases of the more expensive twin engine Boeing F-15I - for which the IAF placed an order for 25 in 1997. The estimated $4.5 billion dollar F-16I deal ($45 million per aircraft) will be financed by the annual U.S. military aid package and concludes the largest Israeli military purchase in history. Each F-15 cost approximately $84 million.
The F-16I is a heavily modified two seat version of the U.S. Air Force's F-16D Block 50/52-series fighter. In addition to the new and more powerful Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine, the F-16I boasts numerous internal and external advancements and modifications. For example, 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.
Israel had originally ordered 50 F-16Is in 2001 but increased the purchase to 102 after deciding against the procurement of additional F-15Is.
With the arrival of the 102 F-16Is, Israel will have a total of 362 of the jets – the largest fleet in any country in the world behind the United States.
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.
Wild Thing's comment......
When I saw the photo's of this plane I got goosebumps. It has a lot of extras that are great as well from what I can tell from reading the article about it. I love it when our military and Israel's have the very best and lots of the very best for the troops.
Posted by Wild Thing at October 16, 2006 01:05 AM
Comments
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Posted by: swoan at October 16, 2006 01:55 AM
Wild Thing, great find. When the ultimate war comes (and it will) we American's will find that Israel is our only staunch ally. We will have others, but only Israel will be there through the thick and thin of it. For that reason alone, "I Stand With Israel."
Posted by: GM Roper at October 16, 2006 07:19 AM
Look at all the displays, buttons, and instrumation in the cockpit. Then realise that the pilot has to be able to monitor and react to each of these in a moments time. Can you imagine the training the pilots have to go through and the intelligence capacity of these pilots. That's why only the best of the best are chosen to be fighter pilots. Our President was a fighter pilot.
Posted by: BobF at October 16, 2006 07:30 AM
GM Roper I am so proud to be a friend of Israel too. Thanks GM.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 16, 2006 10:12 AM
Bob that is so awesome to me. How much they have to know and be able to handle in tight situtations too like you said. Amazing.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 16, 2006 10:13 AM
I want one. I don't even know how to start it up, but I want one. It is a two-seater, so I can take WT and other babes for a spin around the block.
Posted by: TomR at October 16, 2006 02:03 PM
heh heh.....putting on my helmet now for my ride with you Tom.
What fun that would be!!
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 16, 2006 02:25 PM
Great article WT, we may be needing all our best soon as it is.
Posted by: Jack at October 17, 2006 12:42 AM
Jack I fear that is true.
Posted by: Wild Thing at October 17, 2006 02:15 AM
