Iraq to buy US F16s

[SRENNAPS]

BBC News - Iraq makes first payment in deal to buy 18 US F-16s (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-15083193)

And so the cycle continues…………..

[Fox3WheresMyBanana]

Well, at least we'll know the state of their jets and pilot training if/when push comes to shove next time.

..and it should be easier to find someone who speaks Yank rather than French like last time.

[L J R]

So now Iran is surrounded by the sound of Red White and Blue airpower.....:oh:

[SRENNAPS]

Maybe we will get the opportunity to sell Typhoons to the Libyan rebels…….with an appropriate discount of course.

[fallmonk]

Does any one know if they are new jets?
Or ex USAF jets ? And what model ?

[A and C]

My guess would be USAF castoffs at least that way you know exactly what you are up against if the political situation turns bad..........or should that be when !

[Pontius Navigator]

Read and interesting novel on Kindle Line of Control. One premise is that US aircraft have a God switch. You buy the jets legitimately, then you become unfriendly to the US, so they simply switch off the electronics.

Simples.

[RAFEngO74to09]

They are new F-16C Block 52 aircraft. This order will now keep the production line open to 2015.

Iraq F-16 Deal Welcome Boost for Lockheed - Defense News (http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?i=7805262&c=AIR&s=TOP)

[Trim Stab]

Read and interesting novel on Kindle Line of Control. One premise is that US aircraft have a God switch. You buy the jets legitimately, then you become unfriendly to the US, so they simply switch off the electronics.



So nobody ever buys US export aircraft ever again - not clever. Also, rather easy to spot, and is a use-once tactic.

Much cleverer would be to build in the ability to slightly degrade. Harder to spot, and can be used as a long-term strategy.

Nobody has ever thought of that before me, of course...

[Bob Viking]

...or just turn off the spares supply chain. They probably wouldn't last very long.
BV:O

[Not_a_boffin]

The IIRAF (near neighbours) seem to have managed to survive a spares cutoff (after a fashion) with their F4, F5 and F14s since 1980..........

[Modern Elmo]

One premise is that US aircraft have a God switch. You buy the jets legitimately, then you become unfriendly to the US, so they simply switch off the electronics.

Oh, there's no truth to those silly allegations, none at all. People just write that stuff in stupid novels.

Nothing for any foreign friends to worry about.

[FoxtrotAlpha18]

A Pakistani General recently admitted to Turkish media that he was aware the US had the ability to deactivate systems on the PAF's new F-16s.

I'd suspect that, rather than being an obvious "switch", it's more likely to be a few lines of software code buried deep somewhere.

[Buster Hyman]

A Pakistani General recently admitted to Turkish media that he was aware the US had the ability to deactivate systems on the PAF's new F-16s.

Yes, and this is what appears onscreen when it happens...

http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSsWNuKXZRKCcsrgVdO2Hr_OitA3xjd9ddrDgKMYYD M8la90KhY

[rh200]

Though I would imagine some smart cookie could come up with the idea, and there is distinct advantages to having such a system for specific "allies". I think the draw back would be if it is not a urban myth then most people are just going to buy it.

[airpolice]

D'you suppose this is why the MOD insisted on replacing the avionics in the Chinooks stored at Shawbury?

[Willard Whyte]

No, that was because they're arrogant idiots.

[SirToppamHat]

PN,

Presumably either:

Tom Clancy's (Op Centre) Line of Control by Jeff Rovin

or:

Line of Control by Mainak Dhar


STH

[Nervous SLF]

I seem to remember reading a few years ago about the true fact that a tremendous amount of electronic chips bought and used by the U.S. military were made in China. There was a story that these chips / circuit boards might have had a secret switch, for want of a better word, that the Chinese could use to de-activate those systems.Caused a bit of a stir at the time.

[phil9560]

I suspect said chips were rigorously reverse engineered prior to use :=