General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern US-built, multi-role jet fighter aircraft. It is in use by dozens of countries all over the world.

History

From the very beginning, F-16 was intended to be neither a technical break-through, nor an enormously powerful weapons platform, but rather a cost-effective "workhorse", that could perform various kinds of missions and maintain around-the-clock readiness. This distinguishes the F-16 from its predecessors, many of which were not designed for all-weather operation (F-104) or extremely expensive (F-14).

F-16C Fighting Falcon
F-16C Fighting Falcon
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From the point of view of design, the F-16 is closer to a fighter than to a ground attack aircraft. It is small and agile, and its canopy is designed for the pilot's optimal visibility, a feature vital during air-to-air combat. For this purpose, the F-16 carries an M61 Vulcan cannon, and can be equipped with air-to-air missiles. However, the F-16 can also perform ground-support tasks if necessary. For that task, it can be equipped with missiles or bombs.

The F-16 originates in a set of specifications the United States Department of Defense issued in 1974. Two companies were chosen during the concept stage: General Dynamics with the XF-16 design and Northrop with a design which bore the name XF-17. The F-16 was chosen from the two prototypes; however the two-engined XF-17 was not abandoned and later on became the F/A-18 Hornet.

Initially, the F-16 was manufactured in two models: A (combat version) and B (two seats, used for training). The first time an F-16A took off was in December 1976; the first aircraft was delivered to the US Air Force in January 1979. In the 1980s, the F-16A/B was superseded by the F-16C/D with improved avionics and engine.

Due to their ubiquitousness, the F-16s have participated in numerous conflicts, most of them in the Middle East. In 1981, 4 Israeli F-16s participated in a raid that destroyed an Iraqi nuclear reactor near Baghdad. The following year, during the invasion into Lebanon, Israeli F-16s engaged on numerous occasions with Syrian aircraft, ending up victorious at all times but one. F-16s were also used afterwards in their ground-attack role for strikes against Lebanon. In the Gulf War of 1991, F-16 from the air forces of the Coalition participated in the strikes against Iraq.

Versions

F-16A/B - original version
F-16C/D - improved avionics and engine
F-16ADF - upgraded F-16A/B that was handed out to the National Guard
RF-16C/F-16R - reconnaissance version that carries the ATARS package
FS-X - modified version, produced in Japan by Mitsubishi
F-16XL - a delta-wing version used by NASA for aeronautical research
F-16I - a version with improved avionics, manufactured for Israel

Inventory

The figures are as of 1992.

US Air Force Active status: 804
US Air National Guard: 634
US Reserve: 150
Other air forces: 1300
Total number manufactured: about 2,900

Manufacturers

General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems (USA)
TAI (Turkey)
Fokker (Netherlands)
SABCA (Belgium)
Denmark
Kongsberg Vaapenfabrikk and others (Norway)

Specifications

Powerplant:
- F-16A/B: Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200 turbofan engine with afterburner, 10,800 Kgf thrust.
- F-16C/D: Pratt and Whitney F-100-PW-200/220 or General Electric F-110-GE-100 turbofan engine with afterburner, 12,150 Kgf thrust.
Size:
- Length: 14.8 m.
- Height: 4.8 m.
- Wingspan: 9.8 m.
Speed:
- Maximum: Mach 2
Ceiling: classified, above 15 Km.
Takeoff weight: 16,875 Kg
Range:
- Combat (without refueling): 860 Km
- Ferry: more than 3200 Km
Unit cost:
- F-16A/B: USD 9.5 million
- F-16C/D: USD 12.8 million
- late models, around 1998: 1998USD 25 million
Armament:
- 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon
- For air-to-air combat: AIM-9 Sidewinders and AIM-120 AMRAAM misiles.
- For ground attack: AGM-65 Maverick, various kinds of bombs ("dumb", laser-guided and cluster), weighting up to 2000 lbs.
- For anti-ship attack: Kongsberg Penguin Mk 3 (Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16's)