LOCKHEED MARTIN (GENERAL DYNAMICS) F-16 'Fighting Falcon'

Israel Defence Force names: F-16A/B Netz (Falcon), F-16C Barak (Lightning) and F-16D Brakeet (Thunderbolt)

TYPE:

• Single and two-seat multirole fighter.

PROGRAMME:

• First emerged from YF-16 of US Air Force Lightweight Fighter prototype programme in 1972.
• Two YF-16 prototypes were built for trials and evaluation against the competing Northrop YF-17.
• In 1975, the YF-16 was selected for full-scale engineering development, due to its superb maneuverability and its use of existing engines.
• The first flight of the prototype YF-16 took place February 2, 1974.
Finally selected for full-scale development on January 13, 1975 and the first flight of a full-scale development aircraft took place on December 8, 1976.

VARIANTS:

F-16A:

• The first F-16 production version for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
• Production for the USAF completed in March 1985, but still available for other customers.
• Power plant since late 1988 was by the P&W F100-PW-220 turbofan.
• First flight on August 7, 1978 and entered service with 388th TFW at Hill AFB, Utah, on January 6, 1979.
• Became combat ready in October 1980, when named the Fighting Falcon.

F-16B:

• Standard tandem two-seat version of F-16A, both with fully operational cockpits.
• The fuselage length is unaltered but has reduced fuel.
• The second cockpit took the place of one fuselage fuel tank, reducing fuel capacity to about 17%.
• First flight of the F-16B was on August 8, 1977.

F-16C:

• The F-16C is basically an improved development of the F-16A incorporating various structural, systems and avionics changes (including APG-68 radar) developed under the Multinational Staged Improvement Program. (More information below)

F-16D:

• Similar to the F-16B, a two seat version of the F-16C with prodection MSIP capabilities.
• Multinational Staged Improvement Program (MSIP) were implemented February 1980.
• The MSIP programme is to allow the F-16 to remain a viable front-line fighter will into the next century.
• MSIP upgrade allows for ground attack and beyond-visual-range missiles, and all-weather, night and day missions.
• Stage I was applied to F-16A/Bs delivered from November 1981 to March 1985. This included wiring and structural changes to accommodate new systems.
• Stage II was applied to F-16C/Ds from July 1984. This includes core avionics, cockpit and airframe changes.
• Stage III includes installation of other systems, beginning in 1987 and extending up.
• Changes include:
• Westinghouse AN/APG-68 multimode radar with improved range, resolution, more operating modes and better ECCM than AN/APG-66.
• Advanced cockpit with upgraded interfaces and upfront controls.
• GEC-Marconi wide-angle HUD and two multifunction displays.
• Fairchild mission data transfer equipment and radar altimeter.
• Structural improvements to allow a higher maximum take-off weight and increased gross weight limitations for the application of maximum G.
• Advanced weapons and systems will be added, including AMRAAM, LANTIRN, and PLSS, increasing the F-16's multi-role capability and survivability.
• Adoption of a common engine ba by F-16C/Ds permits the installation of either the P&W F100 or General Electric F110 turbofan
• Other changes include computer memory expansion and seal-bonded fuselage fuel tanks.

POWER PLANT:

• One 131.6 kN (29,588 lb st) General Electric F110-GE-129, or one 129.4 kN (29,100 lb st) Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 afterburning turbofan as an alternative standard.
• These Increased Performance Engines (IPE) were installed from late 1991.
• Immediately prior standard was 128.9 kN (28,984 lb st) F110-GE-100 or 105.7 kN (23,770 lb st) F100-PW-220.
• Of 1,416 F-16Cs and F-16Ds ordered by USAF, 555 with F100 and 861 with F110.

ARMAMENT:

• General Electric M61A1 20 mm multibarrel cannon in the port side wing/body fairing, equipped with a General Electric ammunition handling system and an enhanced envelope gunsight (part of the head-up display system) with 511 rounds.
• There is a mounting for an air-to-air missile at each wingtip, one underfuselage centreline hardpoint, and six underwing hardpoints for additional stores.
• launched successfully from F-16s, in addition to Sidewinders and AIM-120A AMRAAM, include:
• Radar-guided Sparrow and Sky Flash air-to-air missiles
• British Aerospace ASRAAM and French Magic 2 infra-red homing air-to-air missiles
• AGM-65A/B/D/G Maverick air-to-surface missiles
• HARM and Shrike anti-radiation missiles
• Harpoon anti-ship missiles
• In Royal Norwegian Air Force service, the Penguin Mk 3 anti-ship missile
• Israeli TAAS STAR-1 anti-radiation weapon has also begun carriage trials on F-16D, although full-scale development is dependent upon receipt of a firm order
• Rafael Python 3 on Israeli F-16s from early 1991
• GPU-5/A 30 mm cannon, and a Lockheed Martin Pave Penny laser spot tracker pod

DIMENSIONS: (F-16C, D)
Wing span:
over missile launchers:	9.45 m	31 ft 0 in
over missiles:	10.00 m	32 ft 9 3/4 in
Wing aspect ratio:	3.2
Length overall:	15.03 m	49 ft 4 in
Height overall:	5.09 m	16 ft 8 1/2 in
AREAS (F-16C, D):
Wings, gross:	27.87 m2	300.0 sq ft
WEIGHTS AND LOADINGS:
Weight empty: F-16C:
F100-PW-220:	8,273 kg	18,238 lb
F110-GE-100:	8,627 kg	19,020 lb
Weight empty: F-16D:
F100-PW-220:	8,494 kg	18,726 lb
F110-GE-100:	8,853 kg	19,517 lb
Max internal fuel:
F-16C:	3,104 kg	6,846 lb
F-16D:	2,567 kg	5,659 lb
Max T-O weight:
F100-PW-220:	19187 kg	42300 lb
PERFORMANCE:
Max level speed at 12,200 m (40,000 ft):	above Mach 2.0 (1146 kt)	2124 km/h; 1320 mph
Service ceiling:	more than 15,240 m	50,000 ft
Ferry range, with drop tanks:	more than 2,100 n miles	3,890 km; 2,417 miles



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