Aircraft program
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).
Technical reference compiled with AI research; a value appears only where two independent research passes and a web fact-check agree. Gaps are deliberate.
Supplier geography and market analysis for this program — shown free on sponsored programs, or with an Analytics subscription.
See Analytics rates| Variant | Launch / first flight | Production end | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lockheed Martin F-16A/B | 1973 / 1974 | 1985 | Production: 16 (2024) 16 F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft were delivered in 2024, tripling the 2023 figure though falling short of the 20-unit internal target. Seven of the 16 were delivered in Q4. Customers included Bahrain and Slovakia via FMS. [high]. 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, with Israeli avionics. | |
| Lockheed Martin F-16V Viper | 2013 / 2015 | Upgraded avionics variant. | |
| Lockheed Martin F-21 | 2019 / | Indian Air Force Variant. | |
| Lockheed Martin X-62A VISTA | 2021 / 2021 | Modified F-16D Block 30 Peace Marble II aircraft upgraded with Block 40 avionics, one-of-a-kind training aircraft. | |
| Lockheed Martin VENOM-AFT | 2025 / | Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model – Autonomy Flying Testbed (VENOM-AFT) USAF program, autonomous development of F-16, also to inform Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. |
| Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company | News | |
| Lockheed Martin Skunk Works | News | Developed X-62A VISTA variant. |
Other aircraft programs: Airbus A330 · AT² Aerospace Z1 · KAI T-50 Golden Eagle · Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules · Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II · Lockheed Martin Skunk Works Vectis · Lockheed Martin Skunk Works X-56A · Lockheed Martin Skunk Works X-59 QueSST ·
Find other programs with these properties in the aircraft programs directory.
The program’s dated history — milestones, contracts, supplier selections and facilities, each linked to its source. Log in to view.
Information on this page is compiled from a variety of published sources; links do not necessarily imply recommendation or confirmation by the airframe manufacturer.
Corrections go straight to the editorial team that maintains this directory.