MBDA Meteor on F-16?

[Karaahmetoglu]

Is it possible to equip the F-16C/D/E/F/IN with the MBDA Meteor. If say the U.S gave helped out with the Source codes?

[flanker7]

I can't imagine why not(except for political reasons) It's the same dimensions as the AMRAAM

[Karaahmetoglu]

I can't imagine why not(except for political reasons) It's the same dimensions as the AMRAAM


Exactly what I was thinking, however the Americans have allowed it to be fielded on the F-35. I was not aware it had the same dimensions as the AMRAAM.

[2495]

No reason why not - all depends as Flanker said above me on the political / monetary deals. That said, would be one hell of a combo :)

[2495]

Another thing to bear in mind is if the Americans wanted to include a package of weapons with the airframes - it would be a strange buyer who wanted European weapons on an American airframe - although the UAE wanted to have Storm Shadow on their F-16s and America refused.

The UAE then turned and fitted it to their Mirage buy.

[2495]

Exactly what I was thinking, however the Americans have allowed it to be fielded on the F-35. I was not aware it had the same dimensions as the AMRAAM.

Both are 12 feet long. Meteor is 70 lbs heavier and the fins are slightly large and don't forget the scoop intake. Apart from that, alls good.

[ayanami_tard]

i thought all NATO-bloc aircraft can carry NATO weapon

[Dave242]

If say the U.S gave helped out with the Source codes?

That is the main problem, if you are given the source codes...........

Dave

[zema_06]

i thought all NATO-bloc aircraft can carry NATO weapon

every weapon needs to be integrated on every aircraft model, which is exensive and often gives problems. the most common weapons integrated on nato aircraft are probably the aim-9 and the mk8x bomb series...

[Karaahmetoglu]

Another thing to bear in mind is if the Americans wanted to include a package of weapons with the airframes - it would be a strange buyer who wanted European weapons on an American airframe - although the UAE wanted to have Storm Shadow on their F-16s and America refused.

The UAE then turned and fitted it to their Mirage buy.


I thought I remember reading somewhere that the only reason why the Americans did not let the F-16 Block 60 get the Storm Shadow was some American rule where a Cruise Missile was limited to 300km, on foreign bought American planes. Also the F-35 can carry both the Meteor and the Storm Shadow.

F-16's with the MBDA Meteor would definitely be a sick combo. Increasing the F-16's A2A dominance capabilities.