1) There is more than enough room for a BVR missile to be loaded. Worst case, a pod and SRAAM's, and then you'll have the Wingtips available to mount two additional BVR's like AMRAAMS on the -16. Not sure if you guys are reading my posts properly. But I am getting constant negative no, without you using common sense based on the pictures!!
2) On your point of "Missile pointing upwards"......ever fired a missile from a 4th gen jet? Or even 3rd gen for that matter? The missile is data linked, armed locked on and ejected, the ignition doesn't take place for a few seconds. At which time, the missile has dropped below the plane. If I believe in what you are suggesting, the missile's after-burn would start to compromise the air-frame if it ignites at the hard-point. It doesn't work that way!!
3) See below and my comments on those pictures, you'll need to Zoom in a little on the image. There is plenty of room for either option, SRAAM's, mid-sized bomb rack, a pod or a longer rail for BVR missiles going back to the rear fin. It will have the same features like the Mirage 2k9 picture I posted. See the selected AAM's in the first picture, the SRAAM's inside the red fit easily.
A longer rail (in the second picture), can allow the BVR's to be placed. A pod or a small bomb rack can easily be placed as well, per the mission requirements.
My guess? Two SRAAM's so two SD-10's can be mounted on the newly strengthened wingtips (per the PAF's current adaptation of the -16's and AMRAAMs) for a CAP role. For a ground support role, you can see MK series types of bombs on a different rack (not railing as these are removable). For Recon operations, some EM pods. The JFT has a modular design. The two circles behind the main hard-points you see, are to put in hooks and data link for different type of weapons as I described above.
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See my post above. You don't have to agree with me as you have a right to think the way you think. I am just highlighting what's possible. A hard point had a physical hard point, which can hold "X" amount of weight, in this case, this hard-point can easily hold 400-500 pounds (or more?). Second, the data link to avionics for a modular system like the JFT are used in a "plug and play" format. In other words, the hard point has two different data links / wiring harnesses coming in two smaller circles (outlined in my picture). One can accommodate a pod and the other one can integrate AAM's with the radar.
So based on the mission profile, you load a pod, or a smaller rail for SRAAM's, or a longer rail for BVR's, or smaller bombs like MK series (2* 250 pounds). This aircraft has a modular design and COTS based. You can use each hard point for multiple things per the mission requirements. Two JFT's flying, one can be carrying a pod and some MK series bombs on the second hard-point, while the second JFT on escort duties, may carry additional SRAAM's or BVRs giving this jet the standard
9 hard point configuration like its competitors. I rest my case after this.