The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multirole fighter
aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself
in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides
a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for
the air forces of the United States and allied nations.
Features
In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and
combat radius (distance it can fly to enter air combat,
stay, fight and return) exceed that of all potential threat
fighter aircraft. It can locate targets in all weather
conditions and detect low flying aircraft in radar ground
clutter. In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more
than 500 miles (860 kilometers), deliver its weapons with
superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft,
and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability
allows it to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual
bombing conditions.
In designing the F-16, advanced aerospace science and
proven reliable systems from other aircraft such as the
F-15 and F-111 were selected. These were combined to
simplify the airplane and reduce its size, purchase price,
maintenance costs and weight. The light weight of the
fuselage is achieved without reducing its strength. The
F-16 can withstand up to nine G's -- nine times the force
of gravity -- with internal fuel tanks filled greater than
any other current fighter aircraft.
The cockpit and its bubble canopy give the pilot
unobstructed forward and upward vision, and greatly
improved vision over the side and to the rear. The
seat-back angle was expanded from the usual 13 degrees to
30 degrees, increasing pilot comfort and gravity force
tolerance.
The pilot has excellent flight control of the F-16 through
its "fly-by-wire" system. Electrical wires relay commands,
replacing the usual cables and linkage controls. For easy
and accurate control of the aircraft during high G-force
combat maneuvers, a side stick controller is used instead
of the conventional center-mounted stick. Hand pressure on
the side stick controller sends electrical signals to
actuators of flight control surfaces such as ailerons and
rudder.
Avionics systems include a highly accurate inertial
navigation system in which a computer provides steering
information to the pilot. The plane has UHF and VHF radios
plus an instrument landing system. It also has a warning
system and modular countermeasure pods to be used against
airborne or surface electronic threats. The fuselage has
space for additional avionics systems.
Background
The F-16A, a single-seat model, first flew in December
1976. The first operational F-16A was delivered in January
1979 to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force
Base, Utah.
The F-16B, a two-seat model, has tandem cockpits that are
about the same size as the one in the A model. Its bubble
canopy extends to cover the second cockpit. To make room
for the second cockpit, the forward fuselage fuel tank and
avionics growth space were reduced. During training, the
forward cockpit is used by a student pilot with an
instructor pilot in the rear cockpit.
All F-16s delivered since November 1981 have built-in
structural and wiring provisions and systems architecture
that permit expansion of the multirole flexibility to
perform precision strike, night attack and
beyond-visual-range interception missions. This improvement
program led to the F-16C and F-16D aircraft, which are the
single- and two-place counterparts to the F-16A/B, and
incorporate the latest cockpit control and display
technology.
Currently, most active units have converted to the F-16C/D
while existing F-16A/B aircraft will replace older aircraft
in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve.
The F-16 is being built under an unusual agreement creating
a consortium between the United States and four NATO
countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway.
These countries jointly produced with the United States an
initial 348 F-16s for their air forces. Final airframe
assembly lines were located in Belgium and the Netherlands.
The consortium's F-16s are assembled from components
manufactured in all five countries. Belgium also provides
final assembly of the F100 engine used in the European
F-16s. The long-term benefits of this program will be
technology transfer among the nations producing the F-16,
and a common-use aircraft for NATO nations. Through this
program the supply and availability of repair parts in
Europe is increased and improves the F-16's combat
readiness.
USAF F-16 multi-mission fighters were deployed to the
Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm,
where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft.
These fighters were used to attack airfields, military
production facilities, Scud missiles sites and a variety of
other targets.
General Characteristics
Primary Function: Multirole fighter.
Builder: General Dynamics Corp.
Power Plant: F-16A/B -- one Pratt and Whitney
F100-PW-200 turbofan engine with afterburner; F-16C/D --
one Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200/220 or General Electric
F110-GE-100 turbofan engine with afterburner.
Maximum Takeoff Weight: 37,500 pounds (16,875
kilograms)
Range: More than 2,000 miles ferry range (1,740
nautical miles)
Armament: One M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon with
500 rounds; external stations can carry up to six AIM-9
infrared missiles, conventional air-to-air and
air-to-surface munitions and electronic countermeasure
pods.
