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Top: A Belgian Air Force F-16A is getting prepared for a
next Red Flag mission at the Nellis USAF base.
Right: The pitot in front of the radome is heated during
flight, to avoid that ice would block the entrance of the
pitot tube. Several variations of burned-metal colours
are possible on this part.
The lines you see on the radome are static electricity
conductors. They prevent the radar from being struck
by lightning when flying in nasty weather.
The colour of the F-16 Radome can vary from medium
grey to dark grey; the rubber material, with which the
radome is coated, is highly influenced by air pollution
‘and absorbs dirty air particles very easily. A brand new
radome starts its life as medium grey, but will become
darker and darker even over the following months.Below right: the antennas underneath the nose; TACAN
lower antenna, Radar Altimeter antenna and Marker
Beacon antenna.