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ILS and AIFF on the IDF

Posted on April 29, 2007

I had been wondering about the function of the black antenna retrofitted to IDF’s lower fuselage on the port side during the post-production upgrade (see the photos below).  The latest issue of a local military magazine, Illustrated Guide of Weapons and Tactics (兵器戰術圖解), indicated that it was an ILS (Instrument Landing System) antenna.  It’s a very simple answer, although the question has puzzled me for several years.  Thanks!

But another question comes up.  Recalling another magazine said that the ILS antenna was fitted on IDF’s canopy, I asked a pilot for confirmation duirng the 2001 Tainan AFB openhouse.  He pointed to me the curly, twisted wires on the canopy (shown below).  So if the black antenna is the ILS antenna, what are the wires on the canopy for?  Are they only the interim solution?  I doubt the way they were fitted can withstand the vibrations and high-G turns.

The Illustrated Guide also referred to the single gray antenna under the nose section, right aft the radome, as an ILS antenna.  I don’t think they are correct this time.  It should be the fifth AIFF antenna.  All single-seat IDF, including the IDF II, are fitted (or have been retrofitted) with AIFF, while the two-seaters are not, as can be seen in the following two photos.

 

Many military books/magazines/websites identify the AIFF as the AN/APX-113(V), although I have not found any official sources providing information on the type number.  BAE Systems’ website has an image showing the AN/APX-113(V) system, but with only four antennae.  Could the AIFF on IDF be a different variant of the AN/APX-113?  Or I am making the question too complicated again and the number of antennae really does not matter?

(BAE Systems photo)

 

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7 thoughts on “ILS and AIFF on the IDF”

  1. Bryan C says:
    April 29, 2007 at 4:04 pm

    Well, read the last post…

    http://www.f-16.net/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=38970

  2. Bryan C says:
    April 29, 2007 at 4:45 pm

    Actually, the underbelly thing looks like a omnidirectional antenna for digitial UHF/VHF commlink…..

  3. Bryan C says:
    April 29, 2007 at 5:18 pm

    Or, Link 16 antenna. But I doubt it……

  4. 阿弟ㄚ says:
    April 29, 2007 at 11:55 pm

    都英文看不太懂
    雖然是讀航太的
    小弟不才

  5. MikeH says:
    May 4, 2007 at 5:52 am

    Maybe both are used for ILS. I’d guess the wire contraption is for localizer signals, while the black blade antenna is for glidescope.

  6. Paul S. (Beef Noodle) says:
    May 6, 2007 at 6:44 pm

    I just discovered on airliners.net an image of IDF 10006 with PART of its conformal fuel tank shown. Maybe I am about the last one here seeing that photo, but I’m still feeling excited. Unfortunately I can’t post the photo here, due to copyright issues.

    If anyone knows where I can find better pitures of the CFT-mounted IDF, please let me know.

  7. Administrator says:
    May 9, 2007 at 6:35 am

    Paul: You can see several photos of IDF with CFT at http://www.aviation.idv.tw

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