Contractor/s:
Lockheed Martin
Description:
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a lightweight, compact fighter aircraft designed to perform a wide range of military mission profiles. More than 4,000 F-16s have been or will be produced for 24 nations worldwide. The first F-16A achieved initial operational capability in 1979. As of 2004, more than 11 million flight hours have been logged by F16s from 20 air forces worldwide. The United States Air Force remains the world's largest operator for the type with more than 1,200 units in service of all models. USAF's Block 50/52 cumulative mishap rate was 2.3 losses/mishaps per 100,000 flight hours in FY2004.
In air-to-air engagements the F-16 is highly maneuverable and in the air-to-surface role the aircraft has demonstrated the capability to accommodate any guided and unguided weapon. It carries internally a 20mm M61A1 gun for close-in air-to-air engagements. In addition, the F-16C/D is able to launch the AIM-9 Sidewinder and medium-range AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. To deliver precision guided munitions the Falcon can accommodate the LANTIRN targeting/navigation pod system, as well as the LITENING and others. The targeting and navigation pods have provided day and night, all-weather strike capability to the F-16 all along its service life.
The F-16C/D multi-role fighter can fly deep inside enemy territory, deliver precision guided munitions in non-visual conditions and defend itself against enemy aircraft even in day and night, adverse weather. This performance was demonstrated for the first time during the Gulf War in 1991. F-16C/Ds played a vital role during air campaigns over the former Yugoslavia (1999), Afghanistan (2001), and recently Iraq (2003).
The single seat Block 42 F-16C, also known as F-16CG, are a Block 32 follow-on with full compatibility with laser guided bombs and the GBU-15. The Block 42 F-16C was deployed in 1988.
The US Air Force Block 42 F-16C will receive the advanced Sniper XR targeting/navigation pod replacing older systems currently in the US inventory, as well as software updates for integration of smart munitions such as AGM-154, JDAM bombs, etc.
Falcon STAR, F-16 Structure Augmentation Roadmap, program will see US Air Force F-16 fleet receiving parts kits to strengthen their structure. This measure will enable the F-16 aircraft to attain its projected 8,000-hours of service life through 2025 for the US Air Force, when the entire fleet should be dismantled. Falcon STAR program is valued at $1 billion. The parts kits involved in this program number 79,000. Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is where modification work is taking place. Starting in 2006, F-16s for European countries will undergo Falcon STAR modification. All in all, more than 2,000 F-16s belonging to the United States, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Israel, Greece, Singapore, Thailand and Bahrain will be modified through 2014.
Specifications Accommodation: Crew 1
Guns: Main Gun Caliber 20 mm
Dimensions: Height 4.9 m, Length 15 m, Wingspan 10.0 m
Weights: Max Weight 17,010 kg (37,500 lb), Min Weight 6,800 kg (14,991 lb), Payload 5,400 kg (11,905 lb)
Engine/s Performance: Thrust 23,840 lb (10,814 kg)
Performance: Ceiling 15,250 m (50,033 ft), Max Range 1,600 km (864 nm), Top Speed 698 mps (Mach 2.10)
United States of America