General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine <a href="/facts/Supersonic/D3VpzmlC">supersonic</a> <a href="/facts/Multirole_combat_aircraft/8l6FfCI9">multirole</a> <a href="/facts/Fighter_aircraft/NuIvaGJg">fighter aircraft</a> under production by <a href="/facts/Lockheed_Martin/URp9BQpA">Lockheed Martin</a>. Designed as an <a href="/facts/Air_superiority/5NweGjhm">air superiority</a> <a href="/facts/Day_fighter/23IkX3am">day fighter</a>, it evolved into a successful <a href="/facts/Night_fighter/5qTpLVzo">all-weather</a> multirole aircraft with over 4,600 built since 1976. Although no longer purchased by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Air_Force/7MxWBYlc">United States Air Force</a> (USAF), improved versions are being built for export. As of 2025, it is the world's most common <a href="/facts/Fixed-wing_aircraft/0DQQP2rB">fixed-wing aircraft</a> in military service, with 2,084 F-16s operational.
The aircraft was first developed by <a href="/facts/General_Dynamics/LoTpPuU6">General Dynamics</a> in 1974. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to <a href="/facts/Lockheed_Corporation/FymLE6jf">Lockheed</a>, which became part of <a href="/facts/Lockheed_Martin/URp9BQpA">Lockheed Martin</a> after a 1995 merger with <a href="/facts/Martin_Marietta/IBhkluIr">Martin Marietta</a>.
The F-16's key features include a frameless <a href="/facts/Bubble_canopy/mgTXxbaJ">bubble canopy</a> for enhanced cockpit visibility, a <a href="/facts/Side-stick/mjoT8lmn">side-stick</a> to ease control while maneuvering, an <a href="/facts/Ejection_seat/nl3AmHHI">ejection seat</a> reclined 30 degrees from vertical to reduce the effect of <a href="/facts/G-force/F5j4of9l">g-forces</a> on the pilot, and the first use of a <a href="/facts/Relaxed_stability/ABm0S68n">relaxed static stability</a>/<a href="/facts/Fly-by-wire/nhyXB248">fly-by-wire</a> flight control system that helps to make it an agile aircraft. The fighter has a single turbofan engine, an internal <a href="/facts/M61_Vulcan/8APAQoDK">M61 Vulcan</a> cannon and 11 <a href="/facts/Hardpoint/FzK7XtA3">hardpoints</a>. Although officially named "Fighting Falcon", the aircraft is commonly known by the nickname "Viper" among its crews and pilots.
Since its introduction in 1978, the F-16 became a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force's tactical air power, primarily performing strike and <a href="/facts/Suppression_of_Enemy_Air_Defenses/xAcsqTqr">suppression of enemy air defenses</a> (SEAD) missions; in the latter role, it replaced the <a href="/facts/McDonnell_Douglas_F-4_Phantom_II/epGAnaxt">F-4G</a> <a href="/facts/Wild_Weasel/Cd5fNUaU">Wild Weasel</a> by 1996. In addition to active duty in the U.S. Air Force, <a href="/facts/Air_Force_Reserve_Command/ntaKUU2X">Air Force Reserve Command</a>, and <a href="/facts/Air_National_Guard/50qC3e0V">Air National Guard</a> units, the aircraft is also used by the <a href="/facts/U.S._Air_Force_Thunderbirds/6LXYrdyF">U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds</a> aerial demonstration team, the US Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, and as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Navy/xYK0fUou">United States Navy</a>. The F-16 has also been procured by the air forces of 25 other nations. Numerous countries have begun replacing the aircraft with the <a href="/facts/Lockheed_Martin_F-35_Lightning_II/x0NWsvfC">F-35 Lightning II</a>, although the F-16 remains in production and service with many operators.

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon open-in-new

General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon