Secretary Lorenzana in the US to discuss the AFP Modernization, and tried out the F-16 Simulator!

The Video has English Subtitles, turn the Closed Caption (CC) Function on and choose English.

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Only around a dozen of Iraq’s F-16IQ Aircraft now are Combat Capable

More information has come out recently about the problems that the Iraqi Air Force is facing in terms of maintaining their F-16C/D Block 52 Aircraft which they bought as brand new back in 2011-2012. 

These are also reportedly known as the "F-16IQ". Iraq initially bought 36 Aircraft, but 2 were lost due to crashes during Training in the US. 

Of the remaining 34 Aircraft, at least 10 were reportedly now not flyable at all, and in fact only 23 took part in a flyby earlier this Month (January 2021). And of the 23 that flew, around half had defective Radars and Avionics and thus are unable to operate their Weapons. 

Iraq having trouble maintaining their F-16C/IQ Fleet

Iraqi Pilots anonymously told Fox News that their Air Force is having problems maintaining their fleet of F-16C/IQ Fighter Aircraft. As per the Flight Global World Air Forces 2019, Iraq currently has 26 F-16C and F-16IQ Fighter Aircraft in its Inventory.

Iraq’s problem is that they are heavily dependent on Spare Parts and Contractors from the United States (US) to maintain the F-16C/IQ, but the Contractors left early this Year (2020) due to threats of attack by Iran on the Airbases where the aircraft were being kept. 

The lack of Spare Parts resulted in Iraq making their own Parts and putting them on the Planes thereby voiding their Warranties. 

Hydrazine Hazard on F-16 Aircraft

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the aircraft being considered by the Philippine Air Force (PAF) for its Multi-Role Fighter (MRF) Program (https://www.janes.com/article/93332/philippines-evaluating-gripen-and-f-16v-for-mrf-programme-defence-secretary-confirms), but one disadvantage with it is its use of the highly toxic and flammable chemical called Hydrazine on its Emergency Power Unit (EPU).

It is one of the few aircraft that uses the chemical. Exposure to Hydrazine can cause damage to the Liver and Kidneys, and can cause Cancer. It can even lead to death if the exposure is high enough.

In fairness, out of all the thousands of F-16 aircraft in use in the world today, I can’t find any incident of deaths in the internet related to the F-16’s Hydrazine.

US reprimanded Pakistan for “Misusing” the F-16 Aircraft they bought from them

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The United States (US) sent a formal, Written Reprimand to the Chief of the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) for “misusing” the F-16C Fighter Aircraft that Pakistan bought from them.

The US had set Conditions for the sale of the F-16 to Pakistan, and one of these is that it and its missiles be be based on only two approved Bases, and Pakistan in February 2019 moved the aircraft and its missiles to an unapproved Base.