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

• 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, 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:
  • 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:
  • 20 mm 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 lb (900 kg).
  • For anti-ship attack: Kongsberg Penguin Mk 3 (Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16's)

See also

• Fighter aircraft
• Comparison of 2000s fighter aircraft