On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 06:15:34 -0600, "John Carrier"
wrote:

Sorry, but no. The F-16 (actually the lightweight fighter competition)
was to build a replacement for the F-4 fleet. The F-15 air superiority
fighter did the air/air mission and from its inception the F-16/F-17
programs were designed for ground attack. The "complex avionics" of
the CCIP conventional weapons release system were incorporated in the
first production A models.

I'll disagree on this point. The F-16/17 were designed to provide a cheaper
alternative and augment the expensive F-14/15 (Remember this buzz phrase:
"hi lo mix?"). They were originally designed as less complex air
superiority aircraft ... simple dogfighters ... with lesser radar and
(any?) BVR capability. The mud missions were designed in later.


Was suppose to have Sidewinders and gun only. I remember somebody
wanted a BVR missile on it so they tested one of the early ones with
two Sparrows mounted between the main gear IIRC (It was SOMEWHERE on
the belly and there aren't that many places they'd fit :-) )