AIRCRAFT PROGRAM
Lift type | Fixed wing | ||
Construction type | Factory-built | ||
Control type | Piloted | ||
Engine type | Turbofan | ||
Application | Attack, Fighter | ||
Final assembly | Greenville (Donaldson Field) | ||
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Single turbofan jet engine, supersonic multirole fighter aircraft.
Designed for maximum manoeuvrability in air combat. Light weight airframe constructed from 80% aluminium alloys, 8% steel, 3% composites, and 1.5% titanium. Aluminium alloy, cropped delta wings are blended into fuselage with conformal fuel tanks maximising fuel capacity contributing to long range of aircraft. Stabilators, two ventral fins beneath the fuselage and leading edge flaps are aluminium honeycomb with graphite epoxy laminate. F-16 was the first aircraft to use fly-by-wire control system.
One or two seat cockpit with frameless, polycarbonate bubble canopy provides pilot(s) with 360 degree view. Pilot is seated in a 30 degree reclined Martin Baker ejection seat for reduced effect of g-force with side mounted control stick and Boeing joint helmet-mounted cueing system (JHMCS), facing a Centre Pedestal Display (CPD) with a high resolution 6” x 8” screen for enhanced tactical imagery and digital display of flight instrument data. Nose radome fitted with Northrop Grumman advanced APG-83 AESA radar. Situational awareness is further enhanced with Legion-ES IRST21 (Infrared Search and Track) sensor suite and Sniper Advanced Targeting Pod (ATP).
Variant | Launch/First flight | Production end | |
Lockheed Martin F-16A/B | 1973 / 1974 | 1985 | Initial single-seat/two-seat variants. |
Lockheed Martin F-16C/D | 1984 / 1984 | Upgraded single-seat/two-seat variants. | |
Lockheed Martin F-16E/F | 1999 / 2003 | Further enhanced single-seat/two-seat variant with more powerful engine. | |
Lockheed Martin F-16I | 2001 / 2003 | Two-seater variant for Israel. | |
Lockheed Martin F-16V Viper | 2013 / 2015 | Upgraded avionics variant. | |
Lockheed Martin F-21 | 2019 / | Indian Air Force Variant. | |
Lockheed Martin VISTA X-62A | 2021 / 2021 | Modified F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble II aircraft upgraded with Block 40 avionics one-of-a-kind training aircraft |
View full news archive for the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon.
See recent updates (latest 10/09/2024)
Design | Design (2) |
Materials | Coatings (1) Composites (1) Lubricants (1) Metals (2) Non-metal Materials (1) |
Components | Active Electronic Components (3) Actuation (2) Covers & Accessories (1) Electrical Components (5) Fasteners (1) Fibre Optics (1) Lighting (4) Mechanical Components (3) Non-Mechanical Components (2) Passive Electronic Components (2) Sensors, Transducers & Detectors (1) Structural Components (10) Valves (2) |
Airframe Systems | Airframe Assemblies (9) Crew Seating (1) Fluid Power (1) Landing Assemblies (3) Weapons Systems (7) |
Avionics | Avionic Components (3) Communications (Airborne) (4) Flight and Data Management (3) Indicators and Instruments (4) Landing Guidance Systems (1) Navigation Aids (Airborne) (4) Warning Systems (2) |
Power Systems | Auxiliary Power (1) Electrical Power Systems (3) Engine Components (7) Engines (2) Fuel Systems (6) Power Transmission (1) |
Production | Machining (1) Manufacturing Services (2) Metal Processes (1) Surface Treatment (1) Tooling (1) |
Testing | Test Services (2) |