F-16 Falcon :Specification

MANUFACTURER:General Dynamics
CREW: 1
ENGINES:1 Pratt &Whitney F100-
PW-100 or -220 turbofan or I General Electric F110-GE-100
turbofan
MAX POWER:F100-PW-220: 23,800 Ib (10,796 kg) static
thrust F110-GE-100: 28,900 Ib
(13,109 kg) static thrust
Internal fuel capacity:F-16 C: 6,972 Ib (3,162 kg)or approx 1,073 US gal(4,060 liters)F-16 D: 5,785 Ib (2,624 kg) or approx 890 US gal
(3,369 liters)
External fuel capacity:6,760 Ib (3,066 kg) or approx 1,040 US gal
(3,936 liters)

WEIGHTS:
Empty: 18,238 Ib (8,273 kg)
combat weight (50 % fuel and 2 Sidewinder AAMs)F100-PW-220: 26,250 Ib(11,907kg)F110-GE-100: 27,350 Ib(12,406 kg)

Max takeoff: 42,300 Ib (19,187 kg)

DIMENSIONS:
Wingspan to rails: 31 ft (9.45 m)
with missiles: 32 ft 10 in (10m)
Length: 49 ft 3 in (15.03 m)
Height: 16 ft 8 in (4.95 m)
Wing area: 300 ft2 (27.87 m2)

PERFORMANCE:
Max speed: more than 1,146 kts
(1,320 mph; 2,124 km/h) or Mach 2
ceiling 60,000 ft (18,300 m)
Radius: F-16 A, with 6 500-lb (227-kg) bombs, hi-lo-hi.
Internal fuel: 295 nm(340 mi; 547 km) F-16 C, weapons load unspecified: more than 500 nm (575 mi; 925 km)
Ferry range: more than 2,100 nm
(2,420 mi; 3,891 km)
Armament: 1 M61 20-mm multibarrel cannon with 515
rounds and 2 450-lb (204-kg)
capacity wingtip launch rails for AAM and 6 wing, 1 belly, and 2
inlet weapons stations for AAM, bombs, air-toground missiles, fuel,
rockets, chaff/flare dispensers, or
electronics pods; of these:2 700-lb (318-kg) capacityouter wing pylons for AAM only 2 3,500-lb (1,588-kg)
middle wing pylons AAM and other stores 2 4,500-lb (2,041-kg)inboard wing pylons for other stores only
1 2,200-lb (998-kg)capacity fuselage
hardpoint for bombs,dispensers, or fuel2 900-lb (408-kg) inlet stub pylons for electronics pods
Radar: AN/APG-68 pulse-
Doppler

F-16 Falcon :Overview

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a highly maneuverable, lightweight fighter aircraft flown in large numbers by the US Air Force and several other air forces. Originally intended primarily as a day fighter, the F-16 Falcon has proven to be an effective multipurpose, continually improving interceptor and strike aircraft.

F-16 Falcon :Characteristics

The F-16 Falcon has a blended wing/body design in which the fuselage contributes lift, especially at high angles of attack. A prominent factor in the design is the acceptance of relaxed static stability, which reduces drag, by incorporating Fly-by- Wire (FEW) control through a Lear- Siegler quadruple-redundant flight control computer. As a result, the F-16 can attain 9 g in sustained turns; the maximum instantaneous turn rate at 400 kts (461 mph; 741 km/h) is 19°/sec.

The 11-spar, cropped delta wing is made primarily of aluminum alloy; its midfuselage location separates the large engine intake and mount from the cockpit and nose. Narrow strakes extend forward from the wing root. Single-piece maneuvering flaps along the entire leading edge automatically deploy depending on the aircraft's angle of attack and Mach number. Flaperons occupy most of the wing's trailing edge, operating differentially for roll control and together to provide more lift at low speeds.

The single, tall fin and rudder and allmoving tailplanes also have aluminum structures, but have graphite-epoxy skin panels. Two trapezoidal ventral fins are located below and ahead of the tailplanes. The fuselage has the cockpit well forward, ahead of the nose gear. The wide, ventral intake is not variable but is fitted with a boundary-layer splitter plate. The single engine is an afterburning turbofan. Until FY1985, all F-16s were powered by the Pratt & Whitney two-shaft F100- PW-200 turbofan. Since FY1985, under the Alternate Fighter Engine, the F-16 Falcon has alternated engines with the General Electric F110-GE-100. The intakes on US F46C/DS and Netherlands Air Force F-16s have been fitted with Radar- Absorbing Material (RAM) designed to prevent radar glint on the turbine face.

The cockpit has a large bubble canopy, giving the pilot a 360° view in the upper hemisphere as well as excellent forward and downward visibility. US F-16C/Ds and Netherlands Air Force F-16's have received a gold-colored metal coating on the inside of the canopy to dissipate radar energy by reflecting it in all directions, giving the aircraft a stealth quality.

The seat back reclines 30°, the heel line is raised, and the conventional, centerline control stick is replaced by a sidestick controller located on the right console. Primary avionics include a Westinghouse multimode, I/J-band pulse- Doppler radar, GEC Avionics Head-Up Display (HUD), angle-of-attack indicator, Combined Altitude Radar Altimeter (CARA), and Litton LN-39 Inertial Navigation System (INS).

F-16 C/D aircraft have two Honeywell 4-in (102-mm) Multifunction Displays (MFD) located below the HUD, providing radar, navigation, and weapons system information. Pakistani aircraft carry the Thomson-CSF ATLIS laser target designation pods.

The F-16's Electronic Support Measures (ESM) equipment consists primarily of the Litton (or General Instruments) AN/ALR46 or Litton AN/ALR- 69 Radar-Warning Receivers (RWR) and Tracer ALE-40 chaff/flare dispensers. Air National Guard F-16s in Saudi Arabia flew with the Westinghouse AN/ALQ-119(V)15 jamming pod. The Belgian aircraft's ESM system is the Loral Rapport. Turkish aircraft are being fitted with the Loral AN/ALQ-178 Rapport III. Standard internal armament consists of an M61 Vulcan Galling cannon in the left LERX (Leading-Edge Root Extension).

In addition to the centerline hardpoint and two stub pylons on the inlet, the F-16 Falcon has six wing pylons for external stores and two tip rails for Air-to-Air Missiles (AAM). The F-16A/B aircraft can fire only AIM-9 Sidewinder Infrared (IR) AAM; later models are capable of firing Beyond Visual Range (BVR) AAM such as the AIM-7 Sparrow, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and Sky Flash missiles. The F-16 has also test-fired Matra Magic 2 IRAAM.

Total weapons load on the F-16 A/B is 15,300 Ib (6,940 kg); F-16 C/D weapons load capacity is 21,850 Ib (9,911 kg) at 5.5 g, 13,750 Ib (6,237 kg) at 9 g. F-16s fitted with Harpoon Interface Adapter Kit (HIAK) in weapons pylon are able to launch AGM-84D Harpoon antiship missiles.

F-16 Falcon :Development

The aircraft's initial operational capability was in 1979; its first flight was on February 2, 1974. In 1974, the YF-16 defeated the Northrop YF-17 in a US Air Force lightweight fighter competition. Over 3,000 F-16s have been produced or ordered. Outside of the EPG production, each country purchasing F-16's is assigned a "Peace" name.

The F-16 Falcon is flown by over 15 other nations in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and Asia.

F-16 Falcon :Variants

F-16 Falcon models are denoted by sequential block numbers to denote significant upgrades. The blocks cover both single- and two-seat versions. An intricate Multinational Staged Improvement Program (MSIP) was instituted to gradually upgrade the F-16 and retroactively implement the upgrades in delivered aircraft

F-16 A/B: The F-16 A/B was initially equipped with the Westinghouse AN/APG-66 Pulse-doppler radar, Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 turbofan, rated at 14,670 lbf (64.9 kN), 23,830 lbf (106.0 kN) with afterburner. The USAF bought 674 F-16As and 121 F-16Bs, with delivery completed in March 1985.

Blocks 1 Early blocks (Block 1/5/10) with relatively minor differences between each. Most were later upgraded to the Block 10 configuration in the early 1980s. There were 94 Block 1, 197 Block 5, and 312 Block 10 aircraft produced. Block 1 is the early production model with the nose cone painted black.

Block 5 It was discovered that the black nose cone became an obvious visual identification cue at long range for the Block 1 aircraft, so the color of the nose cone was consequently changed to the low visibility grey for Block 5 aircraft. During the operation of F-16 Block 1, it was discovered that rain water could accumulate in certain spots within the fuselage, so drainage holes were drilled in the forward fuselage and tail fin area for Block 5 aircraft.

Block 10 The Soviet Union significantly reduced the export of titanium during the late 1970s, so manufacturers of the F-16 used aluminum instead. New methods were also used: the corrugated aluminum is bolted to the epoxy surface for Block 10 aircraft, replacing the old method of aluminum honeycomb being glued to the epoxy surface used in earlier aircraft. Block 15 The first major change in the F-16, the Block 15 aircraft featured larger horizontal stabilizers, the addition of two hardpoints to the chin inlet, improved AN/APG-66 radar, increased capacity of underwing hardpoints. The F-16 gained the Have Quick II secure UHF radio. To counter the additional weight of the new hardpoints, the horizontal stabilizers were enlarged by 30%.

Block 15 is the most numerous variant of the F-16, with 983 produced. The last one was delivered in 1996 to Thailand.

Block 15 OCU From 1987 Block 15 aircraft were delivered to the Operational Capability Upgrade (OCU) standard, which featured improved F100-PW-220 turbofans with digital control interface, the ability to fire the AGM-65, AMRAAM, and AGM-119 Penguin missiles, countermeasures and cockpit upgrades, improved computers and data bus. Its maximum takeoff weight increased to 37,500 lb (17,000 kg). 214 aircraft received this upgrade, as well as some Block 10 aircraft, retroactively.

Block 20 150 Block 15 OCUs for the Republic of China (Taiwan) with the addition of most of the F-16 C/D Block 50/52 capability: carriage of AGM-45 Shrike, AGM-84 Harpoon, AGM-88 HARM, and the LANTIRN pod. The computers onboard Block 20 is significantly improved in comparison to that of the earlier versions, with the overall processing speed increased 740 times and the overall memory storage increased 180 times in comparison to that of Block 15 OCU.

F-16 C/D:

Block 25 The Block 25 F-16 C first flew in June 1984 and entered USAF service in September. The aircraft are fitted with the Westinghouse AN/APG-68 radar, have a precision night attack capability and are fitted with the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220E turbofan, with digital control interface. The Air National Guard and Air Education and Training Command are the sole users of this variant, with 209 models delivered. 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 General Electric F110. Blocks ending in '0' are powered by GE, blocks ending in '2' are fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines. The first

Block 30 F-16 entered service in 1987. Major differences include the carriage of the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-88 HARM missiles. From Block 30D aircraft were fitted with enlarged inlets for the increased thrust GE engine, Block 32s were not modified in this way. 733 were produced and delivered to six countries. The Block 32H/J aircraft assigned to the USAF Thunderbird flight demonstration squadron were built in 1986 and 1987 and are some of the oldest operational F-16's in the Air Force. The Block 30's were upgraded significantly with the addition of the Embedded Global Positioning satellite (GPS) Inertial Navigation System (EGI) allowing the use of JDAM and other GPS aided munitions (See Block 50 list below). This capability in combination with the Grumman LITENING targeting pod enhanced and extended the usability and lifespan of this block of the F-16 C. This modification to the baseline Block 30 is commonly known by Viper Drivers as the F-16 C++ (pronounced 'plus plus') version.

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 and lengthened undercarriage for LANTIRN pods, improved radar, and a GPS receiver. From 2002 the Block 40/42 increases the weapon range available to the aircraft including JDAM, JSOW, WCMD and the (Enhanced) EGBU-27. Also incorporated in this block was the addition of ANVIS compatible lighting systems. The TCTO (Time Compliance Technical Order) that added the NVIS compatible systems was completed in 2004. 615 aircraft were delivered to 5 countries. Block 50/52 (F-16 CJ/DJ)

Block 50/52 was first delivered in late 1991; the aircraft are equipped with improved GPS/INS. The aircraft can carry a further batch of advanced missiles; the AGM-88 HARM 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 (F-16U) Ordered by Polish Air Force. These aircraft are fitted with the latest avionics (including the ALE-50 Towed Decoy System) and provisions for Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs). On 9 November, 2006, it was unveiled that the Polish F-16s will be named Jastrzab (Hawk). Limited operational readiness will be achieved in 2008 and last F16 should be delivered by 2012. The Hellenic Air Force ordered this version with the 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. This version is sometimes called F-16U and is the foundation of F-16E/F Block 60. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) also ordered two-seat versions of the Block 52+. Singapore's most recent order consists of an aircraft model rumored to be the exact same configuration as the venerable F-16 I, but re-designated to avoid sensitivity. The latest D+ models ordered by the RSAF can be noted to have the exact same antennas, sensor locations, cockpit configurations as that of the F-16 I. These planes are also fitted with DASH-3 Helmet-mouted sighting system, 600-Gallon tanks, CFTs, AMRAAM, HARM and laser-guided weapons, fully-configured for long-range strike. The Pakistan Air Force ordered 18 Block 52 Plus F-16's with an option for 18 more as part of a $5.1 arms package. Pakistani F-16's will be equipped with AIM-120C5 AMRAAM, AIM-9M-8/9, JDAM, Harpoon Block II, Joint-Helmet Mounted Cueing System, CFTs and possibly IRIS-T.

F-16I Block 50/52 Plus for Israeli Defense Force - Air Force, with approximately 50% Israeli avionics replacing that of American firms (Such as Israeli Aerial Towed Decoy replacing the ALE-50). The addition of Israeli-built autonomous aerial combat maneuvering instrumentation systems enables the training exercises to be conducted without the dependence on the ground instrumentation systems, and the helmet-mounted sight is also standard equipment. The F-16 I also has the IAI-built removable conformal fuel tanks added. The F-16 I is called Sufa (Storm) by the IDF/AF. The aircraft use the F100-PW-229 which offers commonality with the IDF/AF's F-15 Is. Israel issued a requirement in September 1997 and selected the F-16 in preference to the F-15 in July 1999. An initial "Peace Marble V" contract was signed on 14 January 2000 with a follow on contract signed on 19 December 2001 for a total of 102. The first flight of the F-16 I occurred on 23 December 2003, followed by the first delivery to the IDF/AF on 19 February 2004.

F-16 CCIP The Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP) seeks to standardize all Block 40/42/50/52 F-16's to 50/52 configuration for simplified training and maintenance. The $2 billion program was initiated in September 2001. In addition, the CCIP will incorporate a Link-16 datalink capability with the MIDS for data-sharing with allied aircraft, and the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) for helmet-slaved aiming of the AIM-9X.[6] [edit] F-16 E/F Block 60 Based on the F-16C/D, it features conformal fuel tanks and 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 AN/APG-80 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Block 60 allows the carriage of all Block 50/52 aircraft-compatible weaponry as well as ASRAAM and the AGM-84E Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM). The CFTs provide an additional 450 US gallons (2,045 liters) 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. The MIL-STD-1553 data bus is replaced by MIL-STD-1773 fiber optic data bus which offers 1000 times increase in data handling capability. Theoretically, the aircraft could be purchased by the United States Air Force, but in practice the USAF has shown little interest in acquiring new F-16s given that it has an extensive "boneyard" fleet of the planes at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Center and is planning to take delivery of the new F-35 Lightning II by the end of the decade. A single-seat version of the General Dynamics F-16 XL was to be designated F-16 E, with the twin-seat variant designated F-16 F. This was sidelined by the Air Force's selection of the F-15 E Strike Eagle in the 1980s Enhanced Tactical Fighter flyoff. Other variants F-16/79 Modified export-version F-16 A designed for use with the outdated J79 turbojet engine in answer to President Jimmy Carter's directive to curtail arms proliferation by selling only reduced capability weapons. However, numerous exceptions were made, and with the later relaxation of the policy under President Carter and cancellation under President Ronald Reagan, no copies were ultimately sold. F-16/101 Modified F-16A designed for use with the General Electric F101 turbofan engine from the B-1A program. GE attempted to rework the engine for fighter usage, but it was never adopted for the F-16. Data from the F-16/101 assisted in the development of the F110 turbofan. F-16 ADF Upgraded Block 15 for United States Air National Guard's fighter interception mission (hence the name Air Defense Fighter). Begun in 1989, 270 airframes were upgraded. Avionics were upgraded (including the addition of an IFF interrogator with "bird slicing" IFF antennas), and a spotlight fitted forward and below the cockpit, for night time identification. This was the only US version equipped with the AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile. Beginning in 1994 these aircraft began to be replaced by newer F-16 C variants. By 2005 only the North Dakota ANG was flying this variant. F-16AM Upgraded single-seat fighter version of the F-16 A. The F-16 AM is in use with the Belgian Air Force, Portuguese Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force. F-16 A(R) A few F-16 As of the Royal Netherlands Air Force were equipped with tactical reconnaissance pods. The aircraft were given the designation F-16 A(R). F-16 BM Upgraded two-seat training version of the F-16 B. The F-16 BM is in use with the Belgian Air Force, Portuguese Air Force, Royal Danish Air Force, Royal Netherlands Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Pakistan Air Force. F-2A/B(FS-X) Japanese F-16 derivative produced by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, with cooperation from Lockheed Martin. It is larger and utilizes mainly Japanese avionics. F-16XL A cranked-arrow delta-wing version used by NASA for aeronautical research, once conceived of as a possible competitor for the Enhanced Tactical Fighter program, which was later won by the F-15 E Strike Eagle. If the F-16 XL had gone into production, it would have been designated F-16 E/F (single/twin seat).[citation needed] Two examples were built, one single-seat and one two-seat version. RF-16C/F-16R Reconnaissance version that carries the ATARS package. F-16 MLU (Mid Life Update) An update of the F-16 A/B to the Block 50 standard for the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Belgian Air Force, the Pakistan Air Force, the Royal Danish Air Force, the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force. The aircraft are designated F-16 AM and F-16 BM respectively. F-16 N 22 Block 30 aircraft delivered to the U.S. Navy for use as Adversary assets. These aircraft were delivered in 1987-1988. VF-126 and the Navy Fighter Weapons School (NFWS) (or TOPGUN) operated them at NAS Miramar. East coast squadrons were VF-43 at NAS Oceana and VF-45 at NAS Key West. Each squadron had one TF-16N and 5 F-16 N, with the exception of TOPGUN which had 7. Due to the high stress of constant combat training, the wings of these aircraft began to crack and the Navy announced their retirement in 1994 and sent them to AMARC by 1995. As adversary aircraft they were notable for their colorful appearance. Most Navy F-16 N aircraft were painted in a three-tone blue and gray "ghost" scheme. TOPGUN had some of the more colorful ones: a three-color desert scheme, a light blue one and a green splinter camo version with Marine markings. VF-126 also had a unique blue example. In 2002 the Navy began to receive 14 F-16 A and B models from AMARC that were originally intended for Pakistan before being embargoed. These were operated by NSAWC N7 (TOPGUN) for adversary training and painted in exotic schemes. TF-16N Four two-seaters delivered to the U.S. Navy for use in adversary training. Each of the three Navy adversary squadrons equipped with the F-16 and TOPGUN had one example of this version. KF-16 120 aircraft built by Korean Aerospace Industries under license from Lockheed Martin in the 1990s. There are two variants of KF-16; the first 12 KF-16s were delivered to Republic of Korea Air Force in 1994, and were based on F-16 C/D Block 32. The second variants, introduced in 1994,[citation needed] were advanced derivatives of F-16 C/D Block 52. Almost 2,500 parts were changed from the original F-16C/D.[citation needed] F-16 VISTA / MATV / NF-16D Lockheed-Martin's experimental F-16 with thrust vector control. The VISTA program is considered successful, but the thrust vector control (TVC) never made it into fighter versions. AFTI/F-16

F-16 Falcon :Combat Experience

The Israeli Air Force used F-16's in the June 7, 1981, attack against the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor and the October 1, 1985, bombing raid against Palestine Liberation Organization forces in Tunisia. During the 1982 Peace in Galilee Offensive in Lebanon, Israeli F-16s were reported to have shot down 44 Syrian aircraft without loss to themselves.

Pakistani F-16 Falcon aircraft engaged in frequent combat with Afghan Air Force aircraft during the Afghanistan War, reportedly shooting down five MiG-21 Fishbeds and an unknown number of Su-25 Frogfoot aircraft.

In August 1990, F-16's from the 363rd Tactical Fighter Wing, Shaw AFB, South Carolina, were deployed to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Desert Shield; several more active, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard squadrons followed. After Operation Desert Storm began on January 17, 1991, 251 F-16 As and Cs flew more than 13,500 sorties against targets in Iraq and Kuwait, 4,000 of them at night. Most of these sorties were flown against ground targets, as Iraqi Air Force resistance during the war was negligible; principal weapons were bombs and AGM-65 Maverick missiles. F-16 reliability was high, even in the older Air National Guard F-16 As; overall F-16 mission-capable rate was said to be 88%. Seven F-16's were lost during the seven-week war, five in combat and two in noncombat accidents.

In 1993, USAF F-16's conducted surveillance missions over Bosnia in support of international efforts to end the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.