Scale 1/72
Manufacturer Caracal Models
Decal Sheet ID CD72031
Decal Sheet Title F-16 CAS VIPERS
Types Featured F-16A/B/C

In the 1980's, the USAF started setting aside F-16s for the planned A-16 modification, a dedicated close air support version of the F-16. In 1989, the designation block 60 was reserved for the A-16. The A-16 Block 60 was to be equipped with a 30 mm cannon and provided with a strengthened wing structure for anti-tank weapons such as 7.62 mm min pods. This project failed because the 30 mm gun would heat up and senge the inner components of the left fuselage.

There were two block 15's that were converted to this modification; they were based at Shaw airforce base. The Block 60 did not go into production and the A-16 became wrapped up in the debate about close air support. The supporters of the A-16 project wanted the USAF to replace its A-10A Thunderbolt IIs with A-16's, arguing that the A-10 was too slow to survive above a high-tech battlefield. Detractors argued that the A-16 had insufficient range and load-carrying capability to make an effective attack aircraft, and, in addition, it would be too vulnerable to enemy anti-aircraft fire.

The Army argued that the Key West agreement of 1948 (under which they were prohibited from operating fixed-wing combat aircraft) was now obsolete, and that the USAF's A-10's should be turned over to them for use alongside AH-64 Apache helicopters. In 1990, Congress decreed that some USAF A-10A's and OV-10 Broncos be turned over to the Army and Marine Corps beginning in 1991.

However, all of these plans came to naught on November 26th, 1990, when the USAF was ordered to retain two wings of A-10 aircraft for the CAS mission. No order for the A-16 was ever placed.

On the same November 26th, 1990, when the USAF was forced to opt for the A-10 in stead of the A-16, the decision was made to retrofit up to 400 existing Block30/32 F-16C/D's with new equipment to perform the CAS (close Air Support) and BAI (Battlefield Air Interdiction) missions, effectively killing the A-16 program. Modifications would include a Global Positioning System (GPS), Digital Terrain System (DTS), system hardening, modular mission computer, and an Automatic Target Handoff System (ATHS).

A prototype Block 30 (although still with the A-model HUD and the slim tail base) was based at Shaw AFB and went through numerous physical adjustments. Official designation, much like the Hornet, was to be F/A-16. In January 1992, this plan too was abandonned in favor of using LANTIRN-equipped Block40/42 F-16C/D's.

The USAF was rather reluctant to let the idea of a dedicated CAS F-16 go, and planned to replace its A-10's with F-16s fitted with a version of the Warthog's Avenger cannon. In November 1988, the 174th TFW of the New York ANG began transitioning from the A-10A Thunderbolt II to the F-16A/B block 10, becoming the first unit to operate the F-16 in a close air support role.

During Desert Storm, their 24 F-16A/B aircraft were equipped to carry the General Electric GPU-5/A Pave Claw pod on the centerline station. The pod houses a 30mm GAU-13/A four-barrel derivative of the seven-barrel GAU-8/A cannon used by the A-10A, and 353 rounds of ammunition. The aircraft received the new designation F/A-16, and were the only F-16s ever to be equipped with this weapon, intended for use against a variety of battlefield targets, including armor.

If the tests were successful, there were plans for a fleet of F/A-16C's with the same armament. To demonstrate the concept, the AF installed Pave Penny avionics, 30mm gun pods and European One paint jobs on 7 F-16C's (#83128, -129, -130, -131, -132, -144, -2??). F-16B no. 2 (#75752) was given similar treatment except for a Falcon Eye system. These aircraft flew from Nellis with the 'WA' tailcode.

The F-16s from the 174th were deployed to the Persian Gulf during Desert Storm, but the project proved to be a miserable failure. Precision aiming was impossible for several reasons:

The pylon mount isn't as steady as the A-10's rigid mounting;The F-16 flies much faster than an A-10, giving the pilots too little time approaching the target;Firing the gun shook the aircraft harshly and made it impossible to control;Essential CCIP (continuously computed impact point) software was unavailable.

Pilots ended up using the gun as an area effect weapon, spraying multiple targets with ammunition, producing an effect rather like a cluster bomb. It took only a couple of days of this before they gave up, unbolted the gun pods, and went back to dropping real cluster bombs - which did the job more effectively.

Caracal provide markings for all of the CAS F-16s, with an additional option for the General Dynamics demonstrator. Tne individual aircraft are:-

  • 78-0008 F-16A-1 from the 15th TFTS based at Hill AFB in the early 1980s. All markings were black and this aircraft carried "HL" tailcodes. It was painted in a three tone wraparound scheme of FS36081 Dark Grey, FS34092 Dark Green and FS34102 Medium Green, with a black radome;
  • 83-1144 F-16C-25 from the 33rd TFS, originally tested at Nellis AFB and then returned to Shaw AFB where the "SW" tailcode was applied. This carried the same colours as above, but laid out differently. The nose cone was Medium Green with the tip being painted dark grey;
  • 83-1128, 83-1129, 83-1130, 83-1131, 83-1132 F-16C-25 from the 422nd TES at Nellis AFB during the late 1980's. Black "WA" tail codes and identical scheme to option 2;
  • 84-1267 F-16C-25 from the 422nd TES, marked identically to the 5 above;
  • 78-0096 F-16B-1 from the 34rd TFS based at Hill AFB during the early 1980s. Painted identically to 78-0008 but with a red tail band;
  • 75-0752 F-16B operated by General Dynamics as their technology demonstrator, show as it was retired to the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas Texas. This carried a scheme which was different to the others, although using the scame colors. Instead of a tail code, it carried a large black/white/yellow falcon on both sides of the fin, "TECHNOLOGY" in yellow and "DEMONSTRATOR" in white and "Lockheed Fort Worth Division on the base of the fin;
  • 75-0752 F-16B prior to retirement. At this time it carried a "GD" tailcode and "POWERED BY P&W220" on the fuselage and was painted in the three tone camouflage scheme.

As usual for Caracal, the sheet is printed by Cartograf and is in perfect register. Enough stencils are provided to build two aircraft. Instructions comprise three sides of full color A4, with left and right side views of each aircraft and upper/lower views for each of the three schemes.

Highly recommended!

Review and images by Chris St Clair