F-16 Fighting Falcon

The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft developed for the United States Air Force (USAF). Since its first flight in 1974, it has evolved through numerous variants, adapting to technological advancements and operational requirements.

Over 4,600 F-16s have been built, serving in over 25 countries, with production continuing into the 2020s.

Key features & characteristics:

• Role: Multirole fighter (air superiority, ground attack, SEAD).
• Design:
  • Single-seat (F-16A/C/E) or
  • Two-seat (F-16B/D/F)
  • features a sleek, aerodynamic airframe with a cropped delta wing and a single vertical stabilizer. The F-16 was the first production fighter to use a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire (FBW) flight control system, enhancing maneuverability.
• Engine: Powered by either a Pratt & Whitney F100 or General Electric F110 turbofan, delivering 23.770–32.500 lbf (32.225 - 44.000 nm) thrust with afterburner, depending on the variant. Top speed exceeds Mach 2 (approximately 1.500 mph / 2.400 km/h), with a combat radius of 340–1.000 miles (550 - 1600 km).
• Avionics:
  • Equipped with advanced radars:
    • AN/APG-66 in early models
    • AN/APG-68 in later models
    • AN/APG-80/83 AESA in advanced variants
  • head-up display (HUD)
  • multifunction displays (MFDs), and electronic warfare systems.
  • Modern variants include Link 16 data links, helmet-mounted cueing, and infrared search and track (IRST).
• Armament: A 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon, up to 17.000 lbs (7.700 kg) of external ordnance on nine hardpoints, including AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM, JDAM, and various bombs and missiles. Some variants carry conformal fuel tanks (CFTs) for extended range.
• Performance: Highly agile with a 9G maneuverability limit, a service ceiling of 50.000+ feet (15.000 m), and excellent climb rate (50.000 ft/min / 900 km/h). Its lightweight design (empty weight ~18.900 lbs / 8.500 kg) and high thrust-to-weight ratio enable superior dogfighting and multirole performance.
• Operational Use: The F-16 has seen extensive combat in conflicts like the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, performing air superiority, close air support, and precision strikes. It remains a cornerstone of the USAF and allied air forces, with upgrades like the F-16V extending its service life.
• Export and Legacy: Exported to nations including Israel, Turkey, Egypt, and Taiwan. Its versatility, affordability, and continuous upgrades (e.g., Mid-Life Update, Block 70/72) ensure its relevance, though the USAF is gradually replacing it with the F-35.

More information:

• F-16.net
• Air Vectors - F-16 variants