F-16 Fighting Falcon Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, USA

F-16 Fighting Falcon Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft, USA

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, the first of the US Air Force multi-role fighter aircraft, is the world's most prolific fighter with more than 2,000 in service with the USAF and 2,000 operational with 23 other countries. The F-16 and the F-15 Eagle were the world's first aircraft able to withstand higher G forces than the pilots. The Fighting Falcon entered service in 1979. The last of 2,231 F-16 fighters for the US Air Force was delivered in March 2005.
"The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the world's most prolific fighter."
Recent orders include Bahrain (ten delivered), Greece (60 Block 52 all delivered), Israel (50), Egypt (24 Block 40), New Zealand (28), United Arab Emirates (80 Block 60, first delivered 2005), Singapore (20), South Korea (20 Block 52 all delivered), Oman (12, first delivered August 2005), Chile (10 Block 50, first delivery 2006) and Poland (48 Block 52, first delivery 2006).
Israel, with the world's largest F-16 fleet outside the USAF, has ordered 110 F-16I aircraft, of which the first was delivered in December 2003. These aircraft have Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engines, Elbit avionics, Elisra electronic warfare systems and Rafael weapons and sensors, including Litening II laser target designator pods. Italy has leased 34 aircraft until the first tranche of Eurofighter deliveries are completed. Hungary will acquire 24 ex-USAF fighters.
In December 2005, Greece ordered a further 30 Block 52+ fighters (20 F-16C single seat and 10 F-16D two-seat) to be delivered from 2009.
In June 2005, Pakistan requested the Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of 36 F-16C/D block 50/52 aircraft. In June 2006, the Pentagon notified Congress of its intention to agree the sale and Lockheed Martin was awarded a contract for 12 F-16C and 6 F-16D block 52 aircraft in December 2006. The aircraft will be armed with AMRAAM and Sidewinder missiles and the Sniper targeting pod.
In September 2006, Turkey requested the sale of an additional 30 advanced block 50 F-16 aircraft. The order was signed in May 2007. The aircraft will be delivered in 2011 and 2012.
In June 2007, Taiwan requested 66 F-16C/D aircraft but the US government has indicated that approval is unlikely to be granted before 2008.
In December 2007, Morocco requested the sale of 24 F-16C/D block 50/52 aircraft.

F-16 COMMON CONFIGURATION IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAMME (CCIP)

650 USAF Block 40/50 F-16s are being upgraded under the Common Configuration Implementation Program (CCIP). The first phase of the program (first aircraft completed in January 2002) provides core computer and colour cockpit modifications.
The second, which began in September 2002, involves fitting the advanced AN/APX-113 interrogator/transponder and Lockheed Martin Sniper XR advanced FLIR targeting pod.
The third, which started in July 2003, adds Link 16 datalink, the Boeing Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System and an electronic horizontal situation indicator. Operational testing of the M3 upgraded fighters was completed in September 2004. Deliveries are planned to complete in 2010.
"Israel has the largest F-16 fleet outside the USAF."
A216 Block 40/50 F-16 aircraft of the Turkish Air Force are to be upgraded with elements of the CCIP, under an agreement reached in April 2005. Lockheed Martin was awarded the contract to supply the modernisation kits in December 2006. The upgrade is scheduled for completion in 2016.
The export version of the Sniper XR pod, the PANTERA, has been ordered by the Royal Norwegian Air Force. The first was delivered in November 2003.

BLOCK 60 UPGRADE

The Block 60 F-16E/F, which is being developed for the United Arab Emirates, features extra payload and range, in part due to the new F110-132 engine being developed by General Electric, which produces 145kN of thrust.
New avionics for the Block 60 includes a higher-speed mission computer, a new display processor, 3 large colour LCD displays, advanced data transfer unit with a fibre-optic data transfer network Precision targeting is achieved by the Northrop Grumman integrated navigation FLIR and targeting FLIR system using mid-wave infrared arrays and Northrop Grumman's APG-80 agile beam active electronically scanned (AESA) radar.
Northrop Grumman is providing the Integrated Electronic Warfare Suite. First flight of the Block 60 aircraft took place in December 2003. Deliveries of 80 block 60 aircraft to the UAE began in May 2005 and are scheduled to conclude by 2008.

COCKPIT

Advanced equipment being fitted on the current build of the F-16 includes Honeywell colour flat-panel liquid crystal multifunction displays, digital terrain system, modular mission computer, colour video camera to record the pilot's view of the Head-Up Display (HUD), a colour triple-deck video recorder and an enhanced programmable display generator.
Under the USAF Project Sure Strike, the F-16 is being equipped with an Improved Data Modem (IDM), which automatically provides target data to the HUD using data transmitted by a ground observer.
"USAF F-16 aircraft are scheduled to receive the Boeing Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)."
A follow-on program, Project Gold Strike, integrates an upgraded IDM for the transmission of images to and from a range of sources, including ground units and unmanned aircraft. The system can transmit images from the LANTIRN targeting pod and display video imagery to the cockpit.
USAF F-16 aircraft are scheduled to receive the Boeing Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), currently in full-rate production. Deliveries of production systems begin in 2004, although the system has been deployed operationally during Operation Iraqi Freedom

WEAPONS

The aircraft has nine hardpoints for weapons payloads: one at each wing tip, three under each wing and one centreline under the fuselage. The ordnance is launched from Raytheon LAU-88 launchers, MAU-12 and Orgen bomb ejector racks. The port wing is fitted with a 20mm General Electric M61A1 multi-barrel cannon and the gunsight is interfaced to the cockpit HUD.
Air-to-air missiles which have been carried on the F-16 include the Lockheed Martin/Raytheon AIM-9 Sidewinder, Raytheon AMRAAM, Raytheon Sparrow, MBDA (formerly Matra BAe Dynamics) Skyflash and ASRAAM, and the MBDA R550 Magic 2. In April 2004, the F-16 first fired the new-generation AIM-9X Sidewinder, which is in full-rate production for the USAF.
Air-to-surface missiles carried on the F-16 include Maverick, HARM and Shrike missiles, manufactured by Raytheon, and anti-ship missiles include Boeing Harpoon and Kongsberg Penguin. Flight tests with the Lockheed Martin Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) are being conducted from the F-16.
The first guided launch of the new Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) was successfully carried out from an F-16. The F-16 was the first USAF aircraft to be fitted with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) in April 2000.
The F-16 can be fitted with Lockheed Martin Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD), which provides precision guidance for CBU-87, -89, and 97 cluster munitions. The system corrects for launch transients, ballistic errors, and winds aloft.
The F-16 will be the first aircraft to use the USAF's new weapon rack, the Edo Corporation BRU-57. The BRU-57 is a vertical ejection rack which doubles the aircraft's capacity for precision-guided weapons like JDAM and WCMD.