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[[Image:F-16.JPG‎|thumb]]

[[Image:F-16.JPG‎|thumb]]

The '''F-16 Fighting Falcon''' is a multirole fighter aircraft. There are several versions serving in 24 air forces; with over 4000 of the aircraft produced, the F-16 is one of the most successful modern fighters. The Falcon has scored a number of times in combat, its most well-known mission being the [[Israeli]] bombing raid that destroyed the Iraqi [[nuclear power]] plant at Osirak in 1981.<ref>''Raid on the Sun'', by Rodger W. Clarke, 2004</ref> The aircraft is known for excellent [[dogfight]]ing maneuverability.

The '''F-16 Fighting Falcon''' is a multirole fighter aircraft. There are several versions serving in 24 air forces; with over 5,000 of the aircraft produced, the F-16 is one of the most successful modern fighters. Even with the advent of more modern stealth aircraft (such as the [[F-22]] and the [[F-35]]), the F-16 is still in production as of 2023 for smaller foreign countries that cannot afford, and lack the need for, modern aircraft.

 

 

The Falcon has scored many times in combat, its most well-known mission being the [[Israeli]] bombing raid that destroyed the Iraqi [[nuclear power]] plant at Osirak in 1981.<ref>''Raid on the Sun'', by Rodger W. Clarke, 2004</ref> The aircraft is known for excellent [[dogfight]]ing maneuverability.

== F-16 Models ==

== F-16 Models ==

*F-16N (Block 15) Aggressor version built for the [[US Navy]] was built without the 20mm Gatling Gun and the firing port was faired over with sheet metal.  2 Squadrons were equipped one in California and the other in Key West, FL.  Aircraft were painted to resemble Soviet Block aircraft along with Soviet markings.  All have since been retired to DMARC in New Mexico.

*F-16N (Block 15) Aggressor version built for the [[US Navy]] was built without the 20mm Gatling Gun and the firing port was faired over with sheet metal.  2 Squadrons were equipped one in California and the other in Key West, FL.  Aircraft were painted to resemble Soviet Block aircraft along with Soviet markings.  All have since been retired to DMARC in New Mexico.

*F-16 ADF (Air defense fighter): advanced upgrades for the USAF for the specific reason of interception of soviet bombers, Used also by the [[Royal Jordanian Airforce]]

*F-16 ADF (Air defense fighter): advanced upgrades for the USAF for the specific reason of interception of soviet bombers, Used also by the [[Royal Jordanian Airforce]]

*F-16 MLU (Mid Life Update): Program to bring the early F-16s to a standard Block 50+ characteristics. Used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Belgian Air Force, the Royal Jordanian air force, the Pakistan Air Force, the Royal Danish Air Force, the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force.

*F-16 MLU (Mid-Life Update): Program to bring the early F-16s to standard Block 50+ characteristics. Used by the Royal Netherlands Air Force, the Belgian Air Force, the Royal Jordanian Air Force, the Pakistan Air Force, the Royal Danish Air Force, the Royal Norwegian Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force.

== Armament ==

== Armament ==

Other external stores include:

Other external stores include:

300 and 600 gallon fuel tanks;  

300 and 600-gallon fuel tanks;  

350 gallon fuel tanks;   

350-gallon fuel tanks;   

Various Electronic Counter Measure Pods (ECM)

Various Electronic Counter Measure Pods (ECM)

== Operators ==

== Operators ==

*[[Bahrain]] (22)

*[[Bahrain]] (22)

*[[Belgium]]  (90)  

*[[Belgium]]  (90)  

Israel acquired F-16s for its air force in 1978, and their most well-known combat mission was the raid on the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981, carried out by eight Falcons flown by elite pilots.  The target was destroyed without any hits on the bombers or their escorts, and it was one of the most successful bombing missions in aviation history.  After the attack, Israel was thought to have used guided munitions because the strikes were so accurate.  In fact, the strike had been carried out with unguided bombs.  The skill of the pilots, and the sophistication of the F-16s’ targeting computers, was that good.

Israel acquired F-16s for its air force in 1978, and their most well-known combat mission was the raid on the Iraqi Osirak nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981, carried out by eight Falcons flown by elite pilots.  The target was destroyed without any hits on the bombers or their escorts, and it was one of the most successful bombing missions in aviation history.  After the attack, Israel was thought to have used guided munitions because the strikes were so accurate.  In fact, the strike had been carried out with unguided bombs.  The skill of the pilots, and the sophistication of the F-16s’ targeting computers, was that good.

The very first time the F-16 saw combat, however, was earlier in that year.  On April 28, 1981, F-16s downed two [[Syria]]n Mi-8 helicopters over [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html F-16.net: Israel]</ref>  The first fighter kill was in July 14, 1981, when [[Amir Nachumi]], one of the pilots in the Osirak attack, splashed a Syrian [[MiG-21]].  Nachumi would go on to score six more victories in the Falcon.  In 1982, Israeli Falcons were involved in the aerial fighting with the Syrian air force over the [[Bekaa Valley]], scoring a total of 44 aerial victories for no losses.  The Syrians claim to have shot down a number of F-16s in the battle, but this has never been confirmed.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_272.shtml Syrian Air-to-Air Victories Since 1948]</ref>

The very first time the F-16 saw combat, however, was earlier in that year.  On April 28, 1981, F-16s downed two [[Syria]]n Mi-8 helicopters over [[Lebanon]].<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_users_article7.html F-16.net: Israel]</ref>  The first fighter kill was on July 14, 1981, when [[Amir Nachumi]], one of the pilots in the Osirak attack, splashed a Syrian [[MiG-21]].  Nachumi would go on to score six more victories in the Falcon.  In 1982, Israeli Falcons were involved in aerial fighting with the Syrian air force over the [[Bekaa Valley]], scoring a total of 44 aerial victories for no losses.  The Syrians claim to have shot down a number of F-16s in the battle, but this has never been confirmed.<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_272.shtml Syrian Air-to-Air Victories Since 1948]</ref>

F-16s have since formed the backbone of Israel's striking power.  Falcons were active in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], and many of these were the new F-16I, a variant designed specifically for [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Force]] needs.  One F-16I was lost in an accident during the conflict.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=740395 IDF Fighter Jet Crashes During Take-off]</ref>  On September 6, 2007, F-16Is also helped carry out Operation Orchard, an attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear plant.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/16/iran.israel Was Israeli Raid a Dry Run For Attack on Iran?]</ref>  F-16s hit several Hamas targets in [[Gaza]] in the last days of 2008 in response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7800985.stm BBC: Massive Air Raids on Gaza]</ref>

F-16s have since formed the backbone of Israel's striking power.  Falcons were active in the [[2006 Israel-Lebanon conflict]], and many of these were the new F-16I, a variant designed specifically for [[Israel Defense Forces|Israeli Defense Force]] needs.  One F-16I was lost in an accident during the conflict.<ref>[https://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=740395 IDF Fighter Jet Crashes During Take-off]</ref>  On September 6, 2007, F-16Is also helped carry out Operation Orchard, an attack on a suspected Syrian nuclear plant.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/sep/16/iran.israel Was Israeli Raid a Dry Run For Attack on Iran?]</ref>  F-16s hit several Hamas targets in [[Gaza]] in the last days of 2008 in response to rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7800985.stm BBC: Massive Air Raids on Gaza]</ref>

===Gulf War===

===Gulf War===

The F-16 was the most numerous airplane type in the [[Gulf War]],<ref>''Desert Storm: Air War'', by Robert F. Dorr, Motorbooks International</ref> and flew the most combat sorties, almost 13,500.<ref>[http://home.iae.nl/users/wbergmns/info/f16.htm General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]</ref>  F-16 units maintained a 95.2% mission capable rate during the war.  Three were lost in combat, all to SAMs, all three of the pilots becoming POWs.  Four other Falcons were lost in non-combat accidents or mishaps.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_mishaps_year-1991.html F-16 Accident Reports for 1991 (includes combat losses)]</ref>

The F-16 was the most numerous airplane type in the [[Gulf War]],<ref>''Desert Storm: Air War'', by Robert F. Dorr, Motorbooks International</ref> and flew the most combat sorties, almost 13,500.<ref>[http://home.iae.nl/users/wbergmns/info/f16.htm General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]</ref>  F-16 units maintained a 95.2% mission-capable rate during the war.  Three were lost in combat, all to SAMs, all three of the pilots becoming POWs.  Four other Falcons were lost in non-combat accidents or mishaps.<ref>[http://www.f-16.net/f-16_mishaps_year-1991.html F-16 Accident Reports for 1991 (includes combat losses)]</ref>

===Inter-war action over Iraq===

===Inter-war action over Iraq===

===Venezuela===

===Venezuela===

The nation of [[Venezuela]] had acquired F-16s for air defense starting in 1983 and, for a long time, was the only South American user.  When a Venezuelan Air Force general attempted a coup in November 1992 (the second in Venezuela that year), two F-16 pilots stayed loyal to the government.  They played a key role in quashing the rebellion, effectively countering the insurgents’ air power and shooting down three aircraft (two American-made OV-10 Broncos and an AT-27 armed trainer).<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_161.shtml Venezuelan Coup Attempt, 1992]</ref>

The nation of [[Venezuela]] had acquired F-16s for air defense starting in 1983 and, for a long time, was the only South American user.  When a Venezuelan Air Force general attempted a coup in November 1992 (the second in Venezuela that year), two F-16 pilots stayed loyal to the government.  They played a key role in quashing the rebellion, effectively countering the insurgents’ air power and shooting down three aircraft (two American-made OV-10 Broncos and an AT-27 armed trainer).<ref>[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_161.shtml Venezuelan Coup Attempt, 1992]</ref>

Venezuela is one of two nations that ordered their F-16's equipped with drag chutes in the tail cone above the engine afterburner can.  The drag chute is used to slow the aircraft on landing and was needed for the high altitude runways in the country.

Venezuela is one of two nations that ordered their F-16's equipped with drag chutes in the tail cone above the engine afterburner can.  The drag chute is used to slow the aircraft on landing and was needed for the high-altitude runways in the country.

===Balkans===

===Balkans===

==The F-16 in Media==

==The F-16 in Media==

The Falcon played the title role in the movie ''[[Iron Eagle]],'' and has been seen in the movies ''[[Blue Thunder]]'', ''[[X2: X-Men United]]'', ''[[The Sum of All Fears (film)|The Sum of All Fears]]'', and others.  F-16s stood in for enemy MiGs in an episode of the short-lived ABC TV series, ''Supercarrier'', and played a brief, but dramatic, role at the end of the CBS series, ''[[Jericho (television series)|Jericho]]''.

The Falcon played the title role in the movie ''[[Iron Eagle]],'' and has been seen in the movies ''Blue Thunder'', ''X2: X-Men United'', ''The Sum of All Fears'', and others.  F-16s stood in for enemy MiGs in an episode of the short-lived ABC TV series, ''Supercarrier'', and played a brief, but dramatic, role at the end of the CBS series, ''Jericho''.

 

In literature,<ref>to use the term broadly</ref> the title character of the ''Wingman'' series of adventure novels is the pilot of the last F-16 to survive [[World War III]].  In ''Red Phoenix'', Larry Bond's techno-thriller about a second [[Korean War]], one of the main characters, Tony "Saint" Christopher, is an American Falcon pilot stationed in [[South Korea]]. Dale Brown put F-16s into a memorable dogfight with [[Cuba]]n MiGs in his novel, ''Day of the Cheetah''.

In literature,<ref>to use the term broadly</ref> the title character of the ''Wingman'' series of adventure novels is the pilot of the last F-16 to survive [[World War III]].  In ''Red Phoenix'', [[Larry Bond]]'s techno-thriller about a second [[Korean War]], one of the main characters, Tony "Saint" Christopher, is an American Falcon pilot stationed in [[South Korea]].  [[Dale Brown]] put F-16s into a memorable dogfight with [[Cuba]]n MiGs in his novel, ''Day of the Cheetah''.

*[[S-300]]

*[[S-400]]

*[[S-500]]

==References==

==References==