F-16 Fighting Falcon
| F-16 Fighting Falcon
|
F-16C Fighting Falcon
|
| Description
|
| Role | Multi-role fighter
|
| Crew | 1 or 2
|
| First Flight |
|
| Entered Service |
|
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics
|
| Dimensions
|
| Length | 14.52 m | 47 ft 8 in
|
| Wingspan | 9.45 m | 31 ft
|
| Height | 4.8 m | 16 ft
|
| Wing Area | 27.87 m² | 300 ft²
|
| Weights
|
| Empty | 7,157 kg | 15,778 lb
|
| Loaded | 10,348 kg | 22,814 lb
|
| Maximum Takeoff | 16,057 kg | 35,400 lb
|
| Capacity |
|
| Powerplant
|
| Engine | One Pratt & Whitney F100-200 afterburning turbofan
|
| Thrust | 106 kN | 23,840 lbf
|
| Performance
|
| Maximum Speed | 2,173 km/h | 1,350 mph
|
| Combat Range | 547 km | 340 miles
|
| Ferry Range | 3,890 km | 2,415 miles
|
| Service Ceiling | > 15,240 m | > 50,000 ft
|
| Rate of Climb | 15,240 m/min | 50,000 ft/min
|
| Armament
|
| Guns | 1 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon
|
| Bombs | CBU-87, CBU-89 Gator Mine, CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon, Paveway, JDAM, Mk80
|
| Missiles | AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-119 Penguin, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM
|
| Other | LANTIRN, Electronic counter-measures, fuel tanks
|
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, the 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 were extremely expensive / made for aircraft carrier operations (F-14). Because of its sleek, aggressive lines and quick handling, the F-16 earned the monicker "Viper" from its pilots.
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 YF-16 design and Northrop with a design which bore the name YF-17 Cobra. The F-16 was chosen from the two prototypes; however the two-engined YF-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 ubiquity, 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 Osiraq, 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 targets in 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. Blocks 1/5/10/15/15OCU/20
- F-16C/D - improved avionics and engine. Blocks 25/30/32/40/42/50/52
- F-16E/F - based on the F-16C/D, it features conformal fuel tanks, improved radar and avionics; it has only been sold to the United Arab Emirates. Block 60
- F-16ADF - upgraded F-16A/B that was handed out to the National Guard
- F-16I - a version with improved avionics, manufactured for Israel
- F-16XL - a delta-wing version used by NASA for aeronautical research
- F-2A/B(FS-X) - modified version, produced in Japan by Mitsubishi
- RF-16C/F-16R - reconnaissance version that carries the ATARS package
- F-16/79 - Modified export-version F-16A designed for use with the J79 turbojet engine, canceled.
- F-16/101 - Modified F-16A designed for use with the F101 turbofan engine, canceled
Inventory
The figures are as of 1992.
- US Air Force Active status: 804
- US Air National Guard: 634
- US Reserve: 150
- Republic of Singapore: 71
- Other air forces: 1300
- Total number manufactured: about 2,900
Manufacturers
Specifications
- Powerplant:
- F-16A/B: Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200 turbofan engine with afterburner, thrust: 106 kN
- F-16C/D: Pratt and Whitney F-100-PW-200/220 or General Electric F-110-GE-100 turbofan engine with afterburner, thrust: 119 kN
- F-16E/F: Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229A or General Electric F110-GE-129EFE (Enhanced Fighter Engine)
- Size:
- Length: 14.8 m
- Height: 4.8 m
- Wingspan: 9.8 m
- Speed:
- 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:
See also
