A Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16 fighter jet was damaged after it accidentally shot itself in a bizarre incident during a training exercise, The Aviationist reported. Earlier, the Indian Air Force reportedly shot down a Pakistani F-16 Fighter Jet in an intense dogfight.
Pakistan Cornered As Washington Asks For More Details On F-16 Misuse
The aircraft was operating with another F-16 when the incident took place. According to a Dutch media report, the Dutch Viper (as the F-16 is usually dubbed within the fighter aircraft community) “suffered considerable damage” caused by its own ammunition.
Reportedly the aircraft suffered damage when one of its cannon rounds ricocheted after hitting a training target during a strafing run.
Photo Courtesy: Dutch Ministry of Defense
Although most details of the incident are still unknown, media reports described the event as a case of “plane shooting itself”.
MIG 21 vs F-16: Can a 3rd Generation MIG-21 Really Shoot-Down Hi-tech F-16 Aircraft?
The F-16 is armed with a General Dynamics M61A1 six-barrel, 20mm Gatling gun. The gun is mounted on the left side of the fuselage, below and behind the cockpit. The 248-pound gun is capable of firing up to 6,000 rounds per minute.
The reported muzzle velocity of the F-16’s M61A1 cannon is “3,450 per second”, while the top speed of the F-16 is about 2,200 feet per second or 1,500 miles per hour. That makes the likelihood of an F-16 actually ‘catching’ its own bullets in flight largely impossible.
More News at EurAsian Times
- Indian Military Base in Sabang can Strangle China at the Strait of Malacca
- Why is Japan Unhappy with Bullet Train Project in India?
- Is Saudi-UAE Alliance Working to Weaken the Gulf Cooperation Council?
- India-Japan Defence Partnership Aggressively Countering China
- Oman-UAE Relations Deteriorate; Muscat Warns Against Testing Patience
