The
US has okayed the sale of eight F-16 fighters to Pakistan. Here's how
it stacks up against India's meanest fighter jet, the Sukhoi 30MKI...
US F-16: Armament ::
- M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon with 500 rounds
- Up to six air-to-air missiles
- Conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions
- Electronic countermeasure pods
India's Sukhoi 30MKI Armament ::
- Built-in single barrel 30-mm
- GSh-301 gun (150 rounds)
- Up to 6 air-to-air missiles
- Up to 6 guided air-tosurface missiles
- Up to 6 laser guided bombs
- Up to 8,500-kg cluster bombs
- Up to 80 unguided rockets
- Payloads up to 8,000 kg
Primary function ::
F-16 - Multirole combat fighter aircraft
Su-30MKI - Multirole combat fighter aircraft
Wing Area ::
Su-30MKI - 15m
F-16 - 10m
Manufacturers ::
F-16 - Lockheed Martin (US)
Su-30MKI - Irkut Corp (Russia), HAL (under licence, India)
Introduction ::
F-16 - Aug 1978
Su-30MKI - Sept 2002
Top Speed ::
F-16 - 2414 kmph (Mach 2, twice the speed of sound)
Su-30MKI - 2120 kmph (Mach 1.7)
Maximum take-off weight ::
F-16 - 21,772 kg
Su-30MKI - 38,800 kg
Max Cruise Altitude ::
F-16 - 50,000 ft
Su-30MKI - 56,800 ft
Range ::
F-16 - 3,222 km
Su-30MKI - 3,000 km
A BRUSH WITH THE ENEMY ::
During Kargil War, IAF MiG-29s of 47 (Black Archers) Squadron tracked two PAF F-16s close to Indian air space.
The MiG-29s with long-range BVRs (beyond visual range) were able to lock on to the Pakistani F-16s which lacked BVR capability. The planes weren't brought down because they were still flying on their side of the border.
The Pakistani F-16s eventually backed down and returned to their base and did not dare confront IAF's Mig-29s.
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