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General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon Multi-Role Fighter |
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DESCRIPTION:
Considered by many to be today's best all-around fighter, the F-16 is one of the most popular designs in the world. Though designed as a cheaper counterpart to the F-15, the F-16 is an extremely capable aircraft in its own right. The design uses variable camber wings and leading edge strakes to produce high lift and avoid root stall even at very high angles of attack. In addition, the use of a fly-by-wire control system that can deflect control surfaces much faster than a human pilot makes the F-16 exceptionally maneuverable. The Falcon is also equipped with an array of sophisticated avionics and an exceptionally broad weapons load. Over 3,500 aircraft have been delivered to at least 19 nations around the world, ensuring that the F-16 will serve well into the 21st century. It is envisioned that the F-16 will be supplemented and eventually replaced by the Joint Strike Fighter.
Data below for F-16C/D |
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| HISTORY: | |
| First Flight |
(YF-16) 2 February 1974 (F-16A) 8 December 1976 |
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Service Entry
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17 August 1978
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| CREW: |
(F-16A/C) one: pilot (F-16B/D) two: pilot, instructor |
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ESTIMATED COST:
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(F-16A/B) $14.6 million [1998$] (F-16C/D) $18.8 million [1998$] |
| AIRFOIL SECTIONS: | |
| Wing Root | NACA 64A204 |
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Wing Tip
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NACA 64A204
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| DIMENSIONS: | |
| Length | 49.33 ft (15.03 m) |
| Wingspan | 31.00 ft (9.45 m) |
| Height | 16.33 ft (5.09 m) |
| Wing Area | 300.0 ft² (27.88 m²) |
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Canard Area
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not applicable
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| WEIGHTS: | |
| Empty | 18,725 lb (8,495 kg) |
| Normal Takeoff | 23,765 lb (10,780 kg) |
| Max Takeoff | 37,500 lb (17,010 kg) |
| Fuel Capacity |
internal: 7,160 lb (3,255 kg) external: 6,950 lb (3,160 kg) in two 370 gal (1,400 L) and one 300 gal (1,135 L) tanks 8,015 lb (3,645 kg) in two 600 gal (2,270 L) tanks |
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Max Payload
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17,200 lb (7,800 kg) [normal] 20,450 lb (9,275 kg) [theoretical limit] |
| PROPULSION: | |
| Powerplant |
one General Electric F100-100 or one Pratt & Whitney F100-220 afterburning turbofan |
| Thrust |
29,100 lb (129.4 kN) with afterburner
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| PERFORMANCE: | |
| Max Level Speed |
at altitude: 1,350 mph (2,175 km/h) at 40,000 ft
(12,190 m), Mach 2.05 at sea level: 915 mph (1,460 km/h), Mach 1.2 |
| Initial Climb Rate | 50,000 ft (15,239 m) / min |
| Service Ceiling | 50,000 ft (15,239 m) |
| Range |
typical: 540 nm (1,000 km) ferry: 2,100 nm (3,890 km) |
| g-Limits |
+9.0
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ARMAMENT: View a high-quality graphic of F-16 weapons load File is very large and not recommended for users on slower connections |
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| Gun | one 20-mm M61A1 Vulcan cannon (511 rds) |
| Stations | seven to nine external hardpoints and two wingtip rails |
| Air-to-Air Missile | AIM-7 Sparrow/Skyflash, AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, AIM-132 ASRAAM, Magic II, MICA, Python 3 |
| Air-to-Surface Missile | AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-65 Maverick, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM, AGM-119 Penguin, Wasp, AS.30L |
| Bomb | GBU-10/12/24 Paveway laser-guided, GBU-15, B43 nuclear, Mk 82/83/84 GP, Mk 20 Rockeye, BLU-107 Durandal, CBU-52/58/71/87/89/97 cluster, BL-755, BLU-109, Mk 36 Destructor |
| Other |
ECM pods, navigation pods, targeting pods, rocket pods, gun pods, autonomous free-flight dispenser system
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| KNOWN VARIANTS: | |
| YF-16 | Prototype |
| F-16A | First production fighter model |
| F-16B | Two-seat trainer |
| F-16(ADF) | F-16A/B models built for use by Air National Guard units with upgraded radar, improved avionics, and increased weapons load |
| F-16C | Upgraded one-seat fighter model with improved ground attack capability provided by a LANTIRN system and new ECM equipment |
| F-16D | Upgraded two-seat trainer |
| NF-16D VISTA | Variable Stability Inflight Test Aircraft used to test advanced control systems |
| F-16 MATV | VISTA airframe modified with a Multi Axis Thrust Vectoring axisymmetric nozzle |
| F-15N | Based on the F-16C/D, used by the US Navy for adversary training; 22 one-seat and 4 two-seat models built |
| F-16XL or F-16E/F | Advanced test aircraft (originally called the F-16E) developed as a tactical strike aircraft, the program was cancelled after the USAF selected the F-15E, the two prototypes were transferred to NASA for drag-reduction research; the F-16F was a proposed two-seat model |
| F-16E/F | New production model incorporating conformal fuel tanks and other advanced upgrades, purchased by the United Arab Emirates |
| F-16/79 | Proposed reduced-cost F-16 for export; 1 built |
| F-16/101 | Modified early test aircraft used to evaluate a new engine |
| F-16/AFTI | Advanced Fighter Technology Integration aircraft built to test a new digital flight control system and later used to test numerous advanced fighter features |
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FS-X or F-2
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Fighter loosely based on the F-16 built by Mitsubishi for Japan
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KNOWN COMBAT RECORD:
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Iraq - Osirak nuclear reactor strike (Israel, 1981) Lebanon (Israel, 1982) shot down Afghan intruders including 3-4 Su-22, 2 MiG-23, 1 Su-25, 1 An-26 (Pakistan, 1986-1988) Iraq - Operation Desert Storm (USAF, 1991) Iraq - Operation Northern Watch (USAF, 1991-2003) Iraq - Operation Southern Watch (USAF, 1991-2003) Bosnia - Operation Deliberate Force (USAF, Netherlands, 1995) Kosovo - Operation Allied Force (USAF, 1999) Israeli-Palestinian conflict (Israel, 2000-present) US Homeland Security - Operation Noble Eagle (USAF, 2001-present) Afghanistan - Operation Enduring Freedom (USAF, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, 2001-present) shot down Indian Searcher-II UAV (Pakistan, 2002) Iraq - Operation Iraqi Freedom (USAF, 2003-present) Lebanon - Hezbollah conflict (Israel, 2006) Syria - nuclear strike (Israel, 2007) |
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KNOWN OPERATORS:
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Bahrain, Bahrain Amiri (Royal Bahraini Air Force) Belgium, Belgishe Luchtmacht/Force Aérienne Belge (Belgian Air Force) Chile, Fuerza Aérea de Chile (Chilean Air Force) Denmark, Kongelige Danske Flyvevåbnet (Royal Danish Air Force) Egypt, Al Quwwat al Jawwiya il Misriya (Egyptian Air Force) Greece, Elliniki Polimiki Aeroporia (Hellenic Air Force) Indonesia, Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force) Israel, Tsvah Haganah le Israel - Heyl Ha'Avir (Israeli Defence Force - Air Force) Italy, Aeronautica Militare Italiana (Italian Air Force) Jordan, Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Malakiya al-Urduniya (Royal Jordanian Air Force) Netherlands, Koninklijke Luchmacht (Royal Netherlands Air Force) Norway, Kongelige Norske Luftforsvaret (Royal Norwegian Air Force) Oman, Al Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Sultanat Oman (Royal Oman Air Force) Pakistan, Pakistan Fiza'ya (Pakistani Air Force) Poland, Polska Wojska Lotnicze i Obrony Powietrznej (Polish Air Defense and Aviation Force) Portugal, Força Aérea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air Force) Singapore (Republic of Singapore Air Force) South Korea, Han-guk Kong Goon (Republic of Korea Air Force) Taiwan, Chung-Kuo Kung Chuan (Republic of China Air Force) Thailand, Kongtap Agard Thai (Royal Thai Air Force) Turkey, Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (Turkish Air Force) United Arab Emirates (United Arab Emirates Air Force) United States (US Air Force) United States (US Air Force Reserves) United States (US Air National Guard) United States (US Navy) United States (NASA) Venezuela, Fuerza Aérea Venezolana (Venezuelan Air Force) |
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