This specially developed version of this potent aircraft started life as a Block 50/52 F-16 and was given an extensive increase in fuel capacity, as well as upgrades needed by the IAF. The Sufa (It means Thunderstorm) is easily recognizable by the distinctive conformal 600 gallon fuel tanks that give the aircraft a range of up to 1000 miles… enough to cover the entire Middle East region, including Iran. It is equipped with both American and Israeli weapons. Its radar, the Northrop Grumman APG-68, is also more advanced than any other in the IAF fleet. The F-16I is also equipped with the Synthetic Aperture Radar system and Litening navigation pod, giving the F-16I all-weather, day and night attack capabilities. It also has internally mounted FLIR (forward looking infrared) viewers and Israeli state-of-the-art systems hardware.
To accurately reproduce this special aircraft, Academy made many modifications to its award winning 1/32 scale F-16 with extensive retooling for additional parts and upgrades. Weapon systems include the GBU-31 (V)3 and AGM-130, Python 4, and GBU-38. Photo etched metal parts have been added throughout the fuselage along with a turned brass Pitot tube. Naturally, a kit of this precision and quality should only be completed with the accuracy of a Cartograf decal sheet.
|
