In the early 1970s, General Dynamics set out to build a light, agile day fighter that could out-turn heavier opponents and be affordable to buy and sustain. The prototype flew in 1974, and production began in 1976. In 1978 the first F-16s entered service with the U.S. Air Force, soon becoming a mainstay of tactical airpower. After General Dynamics sold its aircraft business in 1993, the line passed to Lockheed and then Lockheed Martin in 1995.The airframe was sized for energy maneuvering rather than sheer size: a single engine, cropped-delta wing blended into the fuselage, forebody strakes to harness vortex lift, and moderate wing loading aided by fuselage lift. Designers embraced relaxed static stability tied to a quadruplex fly-by-wire system, making the jet highly responsive while protecting the envelope to 9 g. A frameless bubble canopy, a right-hand side-stick, and a 30°-reclined seat maximized pilot visibility and g tolerance.Early F-16A/Bs carried the AN/APG-66 radar, which supported both air-to-air and air-to-ground modes in a compact nose. The C/D series introduced the longer-range AN/APG-68 family with expanding modes for mapping, moving-target indication, and multitarget tracking. From Block 40 onward, the cockpit adopted color MFDs, NVG compatibility, and later helmet-mounted cueing. Export and upgrade paths added AESA options such as APG-80 and APG-83, extending detection range, track capacity, and reliability.Weapons fit evolved from wingtip AIM-9s and fuselage AIM-7s to routine AIM-120 carriage, plus a wide mix of precision air-to-ground munitions. An internal M61 Vulcan remained standard. With 11 stations, the jet could carry targeting and ECM pods alongside tanks and weapons, and later dorsal spines on some variants housed extra avionics or fuel while leaving stations free.Propulsion followed two tracks. Early aircraft used Pratt & Whitney F100s, later improved with digital controls; the Alternate Fighter Engine program added General Electric’s F110 series with higher thrust when paired with an enlarged inlet. Increased Performance Engine variants powered 1990s Blocks 50/52, while later customers fielded even higher-thrust models. Throughout, the design emphasized maintainability: extensive aluminum construction, bonded honeycomb panels, simplified access, and reduced lubrication and connection points.Originally a day fighter, the F-16 quickly proved a flexible multirole platform. It took over strike and SEAD roles, replacing the F-4G by 1996, while also serving with the Thunderbirds and as a Navy aggressor. By the 2000s and 2010s, many operators began transitioning parts of their fleets to the F-35, yet production continued for export with improved blocks and life-extension programs. As of 2025, 2,084 F-16s remained operational worldwide, making it the most common fixed-wing military aircraft in service.Across four decades of upgrades—radars, computers, cockpits, engines, and structure—the Viper kept its core identity: a small, powerful, pilot-centered fighter able to pull 9 g, exceed Mach 2, and adapt to new sensors and weapons without losing the agility that defined its original mission.

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F-16 Fighting Falcon