Gundala
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This is some clues from CNN we could look into;AS tak kabulkan F-35, malah tawarkan F-16 lawas
Buntut dari penolakan tersebut, dikabarkan AS malah menawarkan F-16C/D Fighting Falcon Block 32 untuk Indonesia. Padahal kita ketahui, seri tersebut merupakan seri lama yang sudah tidak diproduksi lagi. Block 32 merupakan varian F-16C/D yang diproduksi tahun 1986 dan berhenti diproduksi tahun 1989 untuk selanjutnya digantikan dengan Block 42.
Tawaran F-16 Block 32 (yang kemungkinan besar diambil dari stok eks USAF/AU Amerika Serikat) menyiratkan AS juga berat hati melepas F-16V Block 70/72 yang merupakan varian tercanggih F-16 yang masih diproduksi saat ini. Tak jelas apakah itu menandakan AS sebenarnya masih enggan melepas radar berteknologi AESA (active electronically-scanned array) ke Indonesia.
F-16 Block 32 sendiri memang bisa ditingkatkan kemampuan tempurnya (upgrade), bahkan sampai setara F-16V dengan penggantian radar dari APG-68 menjadi APG-83 berteknologi AESA. Usia strukturalnya pun masih bisa diperpanjang meski tentunya tak sepanjang F-16 baru. Namun seperti disebutkan tadi, ada tersirat keengganan AS melepas radar berteknologi AESA ke Indonesia.
Any tanggapan??
"kita harus mempunyai pesawat tempur F-16 blok c 72 ini adalah pesawat tempur termutakhir sebelum kita mendapat F-35"
This statement indicate that we have to have F-16 block 70/72 with AESA radar as stepping stone. So I guess the Journalist might get it wrong.
" Sebagai gantinya, kata Luthfi, Amerika Serikat akan menawarkan beberapa seri F-16 kepada Indonesia dalam waktu dekat. Dalam sebuah pembicaraan ketika Prabowo Subianto melawat ke AS, kata dia, Indonesia juga akan ditawarkan pesawat tempur lain yang setara dengan seri F generasi keempat "
On this one it is clear that US will offer us different variants of F-16 for us to choose from. And I assume beside the brand new block 70/72 the other variants most likely come from used one.
About other Gen.4 F series they would be offering, the platform most likely going to be either F-15 or F/A-18. The wording "Setara" indicate that it might not be the Gen.4 fighter but really close to it. Which for me it means lacking of AESA radar.
I do tend to aggree with @Chestnut that the package might include mix of brand new block 70/72 and the used one which might be upgraded setara to our current F-16 most advanced one. For the other F series they are talking about most likely tend to fulfill the role of SU-35, they give us option to drop the SU-35 with similar platform capability without AESA radar. I am pretty sure US already been told the max budget for our current fighter purchase plan so they try to fulfill all those Heavy fighter + Med Fighter role we planning to get with mix of new/used AFFORDABLE package platform.
Giving the benefit of a doubt for Airspace review Journalist I think it might be related with SU-35 waiver. There might be some factions inside or outside the US government that might be worried if the AESA radar is standing side by side with SU-35 for security reason. Then the journalist "smell" this as US reluctancy.
Just my 2 cents speculation.....