F-16 Silent Viper Gen. 4.5 concept

After hearing that Boeing was going to be upgrading a new block of F-16 with F-35 Lightning II avionics, I got the idea to study just how much stealth you could retrofit onto the light fighter first developed in the 1970s. The control and lift surfaces use the same angle of sweep and surface area as the F-35B. The LAU-129 wingtip missile launchers were removed and replaced with ALQ-218 Electronic Warfare pods.

The wing base has been significantly expanded to allow some extra fuel storage as well as a pair of single missile weapon bays with extensor rails. The sensors housed in the rear base of the original single vertical stabilizer has been distributed to the twin stabs. The engine inlet has been narrowed and an articulated lip projected forward at the base and treated with RADAR Absorbent Material to minimize forward aspect RADAR Cross Section. This automatically adjusts the airflow into the turbofan to optimize engine performance and fuel efficiency. In Emission Control (EMCON) mode, the inlet lip and other surfaces will actively position themselves to deflect RADAR energy away from the emission source.

A pair of fixed Conformal fuel tanks increase internal fuel. A retractable port cover now protects the M-61 cannon muzzle, and external weapon stores are now installed in stealth pods. A stealth 600 gallon centerline drop tank can also be fitted as well as non-stealthy conventional and nuclear ordnance pylons. AAQ-37 Distributed Aperture System sensors now installed to the ventral/dorsal nose. The upper fixture is not as flush as that on the F-35, as its nose is much wider so I had concerns for space and power conflict with the new APG-81 RADAR. New, stronger undercarriage like that used on the F-2 was required to compensate for the weight.

Lastly, a new Thrust Vectoring nozzle similar to that used on the Eurofighter Typhoon or Sukhoi Su-35 keeps the Viper's reputation for agility modernized. The engine has been upgraded to the General Electric F110-IHI-129 Afterburning Turbofan used by the Block 60 F-16 and Mitsubishi F-2. The more robust engine keeps the fighter's thrust to weight ratio after the increase of mass after the refit.