The Lockeed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American, all-weather, supersonic fighter and strike aircraft in service with US Air Force since 1978. It was developed and originally produced by General Dynamics between 1974 and 1993. However, in 1993, Lockheed Martin took over production of the aircraft, which was exported to several allied nations. When it was introduced, the Fighting Falcon's maneuverability was superior to any contemporary aircraft when it was operating in the air superiority role. However, it was surpassed by the F-15 Eagle in speed and combat radius.
The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon grew out of a 1972 US Air Force's directive for the production of two prototypes that had to have all-weather and air-superiority characteristics, and capable of carrying AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. The first YF-16 prototype made its maiden flight on January 20, 1974. In 1975, the General Dynamics YF-16 prototype was declared the winner of the USAF Air Combat Fighter program, beating its competitor, the Northrop YF-17. Thus, the new General Dynamic fighter aircraft entered service with the US Air Force on August 17, 1978, as the F-16A, which is a single-seat aircraft, while the F-16C is a more advanced fighter, and F-16D version is a two-seat aircraft. This combat plane replaced the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter and the Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter as the front-line air-superiority interceptor and fighter in Europe and the USA.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon first saw combat action in January 1991, in Operation Desert Storm, which was the US-led coalition against Iraq. In this armed conflict, it flew more than 13,000 sorties, mostly in the ground-attack role and armed with AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles. The Fighting Falcon was also used in the US Air Force's bombing raids to strike targets in Yugoslavia in 1999. It would be employed again during the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. Meanwhile, Israel has been using the aircraft to conduct systematic bombing of the Gaza Strip, Syria, Lebanon, and Iran (during the 12-Day War).
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| The General Dynamics prototype YF-16 in June 1974. |
Technical Characteristics
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a supersonic, single-engine monoplane of all metal construction. It is fitted with low, cropped delta-wing, which is blended to fuselage. The tail assembly has an all-moving horizontal stabilizer (without elevators). The airframe is made with 75% aluminum, 9% steel, 3.5 % titanium, and composite materials. The aircraft is powered by one Pratt & Whitney F100-P-220 turbofan engine, with afterburner, which can deliver 27,263 pounds of thrust. The engine air intake is located on belly of aircraft. The Fighting Falcon has a boom-type air refueling receptacle. The aircraft is fitted with a Westinghouse AN/APG-68 pulse-Doppler, multi-mode radar.
Specifications (F-16C)
Type: single-seat, multi-role fighter
Length: 15 m (49 feet, 6 inches)
Wing Span: 9.45 m (31 feet)
Wing Area: 28.87 m2 (311 square feet)
Height: 5 m (16 feet, 8 inches)
Power Plant: one 27,263-lb, Pratt & Whitney F100-P-220 turbofan engine.
Maximum Speed: 2,124 km/h (1,320 mph)
Combat Range: 547 km (340 miles)
Service Ceiling: 15,240 m (50,000 feet)
Armament: one internal, six-barrel 20-mm cannon; AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles; AGM-88 air-to-ground missiles; smart glide bombs.
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| The Fighting Falcon loaded with bombs and armed with air-to-air missiles. |
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| Front view of the F-16C before take-off. |
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| F-16C from NATO country air force in flight |