F-16A/B
The F-16A (single-seat) and F-16B (two-seat) were the first operational variants, entering USAF service in August 1978 with the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB, Utah. A total of 789 F-16A/Bs were delivered (674 F-16A, 121 F-16B) across multiple blocks for the USAF and export customers. Production for the USAF ended in 1985.
Aside from the second seat, the A and B versions are essentially identical and have the same performance envelope and armament fit.
F-16s are referred to by a rather bewildering set of Block Numbers, MSIP stages, and OCU's. The acronym MSIP stands for "Multinational Staged Improvement Program", and is a blanket name for a program in which changes are incorporated in the F-16s as they come off the production line, rather than marrying them to a Multi-Stage Improvement Program, as was done for the F-15 Eagle. The acronyms are the same, but the way that the two programs work is quite different.
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