F-16 Fighting Falcon
Mission
The
F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role 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 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. With a full load of internal fuel, the F-16 can
withstand up to nine G's -- nine times the force of gravity --
which exceeds the capability of 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.
All active units and many Air National Guard and Air Force
Reserve units have converted to the F-16C/D.
The
F-16 was 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. Recently, Portugal joined the consortium.
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. This program increases the supply and
availability of repair parts in Europe 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.
Most
recently in the Spring of 1999 during Operation Allied Force,
USAF F-16 multi-mission fighters flew a variety of missions to
include suppression of enemy air defense, offensive counter air,
defensive counter air, close air support and forward air
controller missions. Mission results were outstanding as these
fighters destroyed radar sites, vehicles, tanks, MiGs and
buildings.
General
Characteristics
Primary
Function: Multirole fighter
Builder: Lockheed Martin Corp.
Power Plant: F-16C/D: one Pratt and Whitney
F100-PW-200/220/229 or General Electric F110-GE-100/129
Thrust: F-16C/D, 27,000 pounds
Length: 49 feet, 5 inches (14.8 meters)
Height: 16 feet (4.8 meters)
Wingspan: 32 feet, 8 inches (9.8 meters)
Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2 at altitude)
Ceiling: Above 50,000 feet (15 kilometers)
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 air-to-air
missiles, conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions
and electronic countermeasure pods
Unit cost: F-16A/B , $14.6 million (fiscal 98 constant
dollars); F-16C/D,$18.8 million (fiscal 98 constant
dollars)
Crew: F-16C, one; F-16D, one or two
Date Deployed: January 1979
Inventory: Active force, 732; Reserve, 70; and ANG, 579 |
