F-16 Fighting Falcon

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F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 C/J Fighting Falcon U.S. Air Force
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	5.09 m	16 ft 8 in
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
Rockets	CRV-7
Other	LANTIRN, Electronic counter-measures, fuel tanks

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States. 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).

Although the F-16's official popular name is "Fighting Falcon," it is almost universally known as the "Viper". Explanations for this name vary, but the most common is that it is a reference to the sleek fighting spacecraft of the science fiction television series Battlestar Galactica, which was on the air around the time the F-16 entered squadron service.

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 (single-seat combat version) and B (combat-capable two-seat trainer). 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-16 A/B

• Blocks 1/5/10
  Early blocks with relatively minor differences between each.
• Block 15
  The first major change in the F-16, the Block 15 aircraft featured larger horizontal stabilisers, the addition of two hardpoints to the chin inlet, improved AN/APG-66 radar, increased capacity of underwing hardpoints. The last Block 15 was delivered in 1996.
• Block 15 OCU
  From 1987 Block 15 aircraft were delivered to the Operational Capability Upgrade (OCU) standard, which featured improved F100-PW-220 turbofans, the AGM-65 missile, AMRAAM capability, countermeasures and cockpit upgrades.
• Block 20
  150 Block 15 OCU's for Taiwan.
• Other designations
  • 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
  • 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-2A/B(FS-X) - modified version, produced in Japan by Mitsubishi
  • F-16XL - a delta-wing version used by NASA for aeronautical research
  • RF-16C/F-16R - reconnaissance version that carries the ATARS package

F-16 C/D

• Block 25
  The Block 25 F-16C first flew in June 1984 and entered USAF service in September. The aircraft are fitted with the AN/APG-86 radar, have a precision night attack capability and are fitted with the F100-PW-220E turbofan.
• Block 30/32
  The first aircraft subject to the Alternative Fighter Engine project under which aircraft could be fitted with the traditional Pratt & Whitney engines or for the first time the GE General Electric F110. Blocks ending in 0 are powered by GE, blocks ending in 2 are fitted with P&W Engines.
  The first Block 30 F-16 entered service in 1987. Major difference include the carriage of the AGM-88 HARM and Maverick missiles. From Block 30D aircraft were fitted with enlarged inlets for the increased thrust GE engine, Block 32s were not modified in this way.
• Block 40/42 (F-16 CG/DG)
  Entering service in 1988, the Block 40/42 is the improved all-day/all-weather strike variant with LANTIRN pod, the night capability gives rise to the name "Night Falcons". The block features strengthened undercarriage, improved radar. From 2002 the Block 40/42 increases the weapon range available to the aircraft including JDAM, JSOW, WCMD and the (Enhanced) EGBU-27.
• Block 50/52 (F-16 CJ/DJ)
  Block 50/52 was first delivered in late 1991, the aircraft are equipped with improved GPS/INS. An advanced Supression of Enemy Air Defences "Wild Weasel" capability is provided by the HARM Targetting System (HTS), these aircraft designated 50D/52D. All aircraft feature helmet-mounted-cueing allowing off-boresight air-to-air missile firing. The aircraft can carry a further batch of advanced missiles; the Harpoon missile, JDAM, JSOW and WCMD. Block 50 aircraft are powered by the F110-GE-129 while the Block 52 jets use the F100-PW-229.
• Block 50/52 Plus
  These aircraft are fitted with the latest avionics and provisions for Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs). All two-seat "Plus" airframes include the enlarged Avionics Dorsal Spine which adds 30 cubic feet (850 L) to the airframe for more avionics with only small increases in weight and drag.
• F-16 CCIP
  The Common Configuration Implementation Program seeks to standardise all Block 40/42/50/52 F-16s to 50/52 configuration for simplified training and maintainence.

F-16 E/F

• Block 60
  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. The General Electric F110-132 is a development of the -129 model and is rated at 32,500 lbf (144 kN). A major difference from previous Blocks is the Northrop Grumman APG-80 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Block 60 allows the carriage of all Block 50/52 aircraft as well as ASRAAM and the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM). The CFTs provide an additonal 450 US gallons (2,045 litres) of fuel allowing increased range or time on station. This has the added benefit of freeing up hardpoints for weapons, i.e. hardpoints that would have been occupied by underwing fuel tanks.

Inventory

As of 1992:

• US Air Force Active status: 804
• US Air National Guard: 634
• US Reserve: 150
• Other air forces: 1300
  • Bahrain
  • Belgium
  • Chile: 10
  • Greece: 132 (32 Block30, 40 Block 50D and 60 Block 52+)
  • Jordan: 17
  • Indonesia: 12
  • Israel
  • Netherlands
  • Norway: 72
  • Pakistan: 40
  • Portugal
  • Republic of Singapore: 71
  • Republic of China(Taiwan): 150
  • South Korea: 120
  • Turkey: 218 (38 Block 30, 104 Block 40, 76 Block 50D)
  • Venezuela

• Total number manufactured: about 2,900

Manufacturers

• General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company (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-132
• 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

External links

• F-16.net Extensive and up-to-date F-16 Fighting Falcon resource.

de:General Dynamics F-16 fr:General Dynamics F-16 Falcon he:F-16 ja:F-16 (戦闘機) nl:F-16 no:F-16 Fighting Falcon pl:F-16 Fighting Falcon sl:Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon fi:F-16 Fighting Falcon