Wild Weasel Story, Part 4: F-16CJ in Operation Allied Force.

This content is not monetised or behind a paywall. You can support me in keeping it that way here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/10percenttrue 

Wild Weasel Story, Part 4. Flash Barker and the F-16CJ in Operation Allied Force. 

Discussion on Discord: https://discord.gg/9vJ3hPYFQh

00:00:00 Introduction.
00:01:38 Flash's background
00:02:42 F-16 Block 30's role in Korea
00:03:15 Block 30 and "Dumb HARM"
00:04:20 The F-16CJ
00:05:20 Developing Force Protection Tactics
00:09:06 Were F-4G Pilots EWOs involved in Flash's Wing?
00:10:40 The Harm Targeting System (HTS)
00:13:50 The "Force Protection Role" - Priorities
00:16:39 Datalink in the F-16CJ
00:17:37 Allied Force
00:19:48 Building the battle plan
00:21:32 How much notice before deploying to Allied Force?
00:22:09 The Serbian air defense threat
00:23:48 Threat briefs given to 20th FW from Spangdahlem Viper Squadrons
00:25:30 Levels of coordination between SEAD assets in theatre
00:28:17 Implications of not having secure comms in combat
00:30:25 The balance between SEAD and DEAD
00:33:37 The psychology of kill or supress the SAM
00:35:02 Memorable SEAD mission during Allied Force
00:39:13 SEAD missions - successes, failures and lessons learned
00:41:16 Typical F-16CJ mission - Preplanned vs dynamic
00:42:50 HARM shots - Kills vs suppression
00:44:10 Serbian air defense tactics - SAMS forcing aircraft into AAA WEZ
00:45:20 Goldfein shot down by SA-3
00:47:51 Flash's closest call during Allied Force
00:49:22 The pilot's trust in the technology to keep them safe
00:50:15 The YGBSM motto and arriving in combat
00:52:29 Air to air encounters
00:57:03 Dog's MiG-29 kill
01:00:45 Lessons learned after Allied Force
01:02:42 Feelings on the Air Force divesting EW capability
01:04:52 Towed decoys and how do they fit in to self protection
01:05:55 Were weasel pilots briefed on cyber warfare
01:06:56 The rationale of moving pilots between different blocks
01:09:23 Did you feel like a Wild Weasel when flying Block 40's?
01:11:22 Cultural issues in WW community when transitioning from F-4G to F-16CJ
01:13:15 Flying the Block 30 in the AL ANG
01:14:29 Flash's favourite Viper variant and favourite mission
01:15:00 F-16C Block 30 Centre Display Unit and advanced targeting pods
01:15:54 Deploying Afghanistan in 2014 with the Block 30 upgrades and close air support
01:17:26 After 20 years and 4,000hrs is flying and fighting the Viper rote?
01:19:00 Flash's thoughts on the Viper training pipeline

50 second plug for Red Eagles

Support the show