โ๏ธ Full Specifications
| Designation | F-16C/D Block 50/52, F-16V Block 70/72 |
| Manufacturer | General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin |
| Country | ๐บ๐ธ United States |
| First Flight | 1974 |
| Service Entry | 1978 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Length | 15.06 m (49.4 ft) |
| Wingspan | 9.96 m (32.7 ft) |
| Height | 4.88 m (16 ft) |
| Empty Weight | 8,570 kg (18,897 lb) |
| Max Takeoff Weight | 19,200 kg (42,336 lb) |
| Max Speed (Mach) | 2 |
| Max Speed | 2,120 km/h |
| Service Ceiling | 15,240 m (50,002 ft) |
| Range | 4,220 km (2,621 mi) |
| Climb Rate | 254 m/s (50000 ft/min) |
| Engine | 1 ร Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 / GE F110-GE-129 |
| Thrust (each) | Dry 76 kN ยท AB 128 kN |
| Production | 4,600 |
| Unit Cost | $30.0M USD |
๐ Operators
๐ Variants
- F-16A/B โ Original Block 1โ20
- F-16C/D โ Block 25/30/40/50
- F-16V Block 70/72 โ Latest AESA / mission computer rebuild
- F-16I Sufa โ Israeli strike variant with conformal tanks
- F-16IQ โ Iraqi variant
- F-2 โ Mitsubishi-built Japanese derivative
โ๏ธ Armament
Overview
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the most produced Western fighter jet since the F-86 Sabre, with over 4,600 built. Known as the ‘Viper’ by its pilots, it revolutionized fighter design with its frameless bubble canopy, relaxed static stability, and fly-by-wire flight controls.
Design & Development
The F-16 was a product of the Lightweight Fighter program. Revolutionary features included the first production fly-by-wire system, a reclined 30ยฐ ejection seat for G-force tolerance, and a side-stick controller. Its blended wing-body design provides exceptional agility while maintaining Mach 2.0 capability.
Operational History
Serving with 25+ nations worldwide, the F-16 has seen extensive combat. It has been used in every major US military operation since the 1991 Gulf War. Israeli F-16s conducted the famous Operation Opera strike on Iraq’s Osirak nuclear reactor in 1981.
Armament & Weapons
The Viper’s 9 hardpoints can carry over 7,700 kg of ordnance:
- 1ร M61A1 Vulcan โ 20mm cannon (511 rounds)
- AIM-120 AMRAAM โ BVR air-to-air
- AIM-9 Sidewinder โ short-range air-to-air
- AGM-65 Maverick โ air-to-ground precision
- AGM-88 HARM โ anti-radiation missile (Wild Weasel role)
- GBU-10/12/24 โ laser-guided bombs
- JDAM โ GPS-guided bombs
- CBU-87/97/103 โ cluster munitions
- B61 โ nuclear bomb (NATO nuclear sharing)
Video
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the F-16?
The F-16 has a top speed of Mach 2.0 (1,320 mph / 2,124 km/h).
How many F-16s were built?
Over 4,600 F-16s have been built, making it the most produced supersonic fighter in history. Production continues.
How many countries use the F-16?
More than 25 countries operate the F-16, including the USA, Israel, Turkey, South Korea, Taiwan, Poland, and many others.
Is the F-16 still in production?
Yes. The F-16 is still in production and being delivered to new customers worldwide.
References & Sources
- Wikipedia โ F-16 Fighting Falcon
- US Air Force โ F-16 Fighting Falcon
- Lockheed Martin โ F-16 Fighting Falcon