I found this photo on the Air Force website. At first glance, nothing to it. An Airman is assisting in a pre-flight inspection of a F-16.
The problem comes with the weapons layout. Sidewinders and AMRAAMs for air support missions? Not bloody likely. Is this an indication that the USAF is flying Combat Air Patrols along the border with Iran? I think it does. And before I get the "that's old news" line, please direct me to the story!
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Nick Forester performs preflight checks
on an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft preparing to launch for a mission
from Joint Base Balad, Iraq, July 24, 2010. Forester is a crew chief
with the 169th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron out of McEntire Joint
National Guard Base, S.C. (DoD photo by Tech. Sgt. Caycee Cook, U.S. Air
Force/Released)
You're so locked on, it's scary.
ReplyDeleteI've been waiting for some Iran analysis, and unless I missed it, I'm still waiting!
I understand how the politics will play out but I do not understand how we could wage a successful campaign given the likely strategy (i.e. boots on the ground, surgical strike, etc, etc,) with our current strength and deployments.
Don't have the link, and it's not in regular "USAF News Updates", but the US has been flying CAPs out of Balad and other ABs from the very beginning, with both F-16 and F-15Es (saw some Amraams on a Strike Eagle years ago). They don't attract much attention because they are mixed with CAS missions.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny, but one comment was that wingtip AMRAAMS were carried on F-16s because of 'better flight dynamics' and not because of any Air to Air threat, or so the song and dance went.
Solomon, it is old news and so old I can't find any links!!!
ReplyDeleteFrom a UK perspective, not so much CAP patrols as just a sensible precaution when on ops near Iranian airspace either in Iraq or Afghanistan
Can you remember the RN/RM boarding team taken prisoner, imagine how an aircraft on CAS duty, or a tanker or ISR aircraft could be accused of straying into iranian airspace and 'escorted' to Iran. If they had no means of self defence they would be sitting ducks for this kind of coercion.
So I don't thinks it deliberate, just a prudent precaution
Will have a look to see if I can find any pictures of RAF/FAA aircraft in theatre carrying AA missiles
Resident Author ...thanks!
ReplyDeleteMarcase...That's a load out for a close air and air superiority mission. A dedicated CAP or CAS mission would make better sense. We have more than enough assets in Iraq to cover both and with the Air Force's vaunted Integrated Air Planning cells, it wouldn't be a stretch for them to task such missions. This is an aircraft that is able to perform the swing role. That indicates that intrusions from high performance aircraft is being taken into account for a Close Air Support mission. That should raise eyebrows.
thinkdefence...you're mixing apples and oranges. The reason why the UK Marines were taken hostage is because of their rules of engagement.
I don't see why the AF shouldn't be flying CAP's near the border. I mean the when have the Iranians shown any hostile intent towards the Allies *sarcasm... Then again do the Iranians have a serviceable Air Force worth considering a threat anymore? Then again, one can never be too careful, if Israel decides to go get some, we need to be there to cover their backs / provide support / join in...
ReplyDeleteOh I agree on the need to fly combat air patrols near the border...
ReplyDeletemaybe i can say this better.
it would make sense to have a few dedicated aircraft flying CAP near the border...but this airplane looks to be loaded to fly a ground support mission and is armed rather heavily so that it can swing to the air superiority mission.
i mean seriously. AMRAAMs on the wing tips and then a Sidewinder taking up a weapons station?
what's going on over there now? i would think that additional fuel or bombs would be a better use for that unless something else is being considered.
it would never get out if it did happen but i wonder if the Iranians jumped one of our aircraft providing ground support near the border or something. a dogfighting missile????
say it out loud and see if that doesn't seem a bit odd....
Hmm what you say is true.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it might also be a pre-caution in case the ROI gets in the way. Pilots may not get the authorization to engage at AMRAAM range if anything does go down, so the Sidewinders are your backup in case things get up close. If yr gonna arm yourself for a CAP might as well cover all bases right?
As far as taking up weapon stations is concerned well, think about it, how many close support missions are called in on a daily basis in Iraq anymore. 2 JDAMS is plenty per plane considering the targets they go after. As for fuel well there are only three wet points on an F-16 and all of them are taken up on that one. All in all the load out on this particular bird looks properly balanced for multi-mission contingency.
What you say is true, it is strange without context, but hell its a warzone...if commanders dont take Murphy's Law into account they really arent teaching them properly are they?
The RM/RN capture was partly because of ROE but also because the top cover lynx was withdrawn and various other reasons, as usual, a little more complex than first examination.
ReplyDeleteBesides that, what it showed is that one can become an easy target for a PR spectacular if you dont have the means to defend oneself or face down a coercive approach, hence aircraft flying in the general area of Iranian airspace carry weapons to avoid being sucker punched because all they carry are JDAM's
Seems just plain old common sense to me although I agree carrying the long range missiles which generally speaking can't be deployed without complex ROE procedures does seem a little strange.
Perhaps they are just keeping their hand in!