XBradTC

The Heads Up Display (HUD) is showing CCIP, or Continuously Computed Impact Point. In CCIP, the avionics, well, continuously compute the impact point for the selected dumb bomb type. CCIP was first introduced in the late 1970s, and was a vastly more accurate bombing system than the simple visual dive bombing techniques that had preceded it. Another radar bombing mode available on the F-16 (and F-4 and quite a few other jets) would be Dive/Toss, where the radar is boresighted (that is, pointing straight ahead), and the pilot maneuvers the pipper over his selected target. When the pipper is on target, he squeezes the commit trigger, and the radar can then determine slant range to the target, as well as velocity of the aircraft, making for a fairly accurate system (Dive/Toss corrects quite nicely for headwind and tailwind components, but can’t account for crosswind. That’s still the pilot’s problem to solve).

Of course, today, while both CCIP and Dive/Toss are almost universally available to attack pilots, the near ubiquitous use of laser and GPS guided munitions means neither option is used much in combat.

The F-16XL itself was a lengthened F-16, with a new, much larger cranked delta planform wing, to fulfill a strike/interdiction mission for the Air Force. In the event, it lost out to the F-15E Strike Eagle.