It's built to be carried inside weapons bay and it's very stealthy as it's made to be launched from stealth plane and a non stealthy weapon may give stealth plane position.
SOM has no market in Pakistan since Pakistan has more than one ALCM programs. F-16s already have a set of qualified weapons, and weapons are only considered for JF17 if applicable.
SOM missiles are integrated on Turkish F16 Block 30-40 fighters along with F4-2020 Terminators. F16 Block 50+ is not allowed to do same integration work. It is believed that Turkey owns the source codes of F16 Block 30/40 variants so They are used as test-bed of national missile/bomb programs. Otherwise, It is impossible to do something without getting approval I think. HürJet and TF-X program are generated to overcome such difficulties for future.
As far as I know, SOM missiles will be integrated on JF-17 fighters Azerbaijan purchased. Azerbaijan introduced SOM missile and Aselsan LGK bombs in their parades. Both of them will be the new munitions of JF-17 Azerbaijan purchasing.
Hi @BHarwana very informative thread my thoughts are the best bet to integrate anything on f16 by Turkish side is to try
To integrate AESA radar in future I don’t think even USA will let us have that on our f16
Or even let turkey integrate on their f16 without prior permission
Now people here suggesting things to be integrate on jf17 specially amram why China let us
Integrate something which they already supplying to us according to our demand and give away
The source code of their technology
Until unless Turkish govt budge to American pressure on s400 deal Americans won’t let them integrate anything on their technology or specially for export purposes
Your input will be appreciated
Thank you
