F-16 Fighting Falcon | |
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A US Air Force F-16C over Iraq in 2008 | |
Role | Multirole fighter, air superiority fighter |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | General Dynamics Lockheed Martin |
First flight | 20 January 1974 2 February 1974 (official) | (unplanned)
Introduction | 17 August 1978 |
Status | In service |
Primary users | United States Air Force 25 other users |
Produced | 1973–2017, 2019–present[1] |
Number built | 4,604 (June 2018)[2][3] |
Unit cost | |
Developed into | Vought Model 1600 General Dynamics F-16XL Mitsubishi F-2 |
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a one-engine multirole combat aircraft. It was originally designed and built by General Dynamics, which is now part of Lockheed Martin.[5][6] The United States Air Force (USAF) ordered the F-16 in 1972. The airplane first flew four years later in 1976. Over 4,600 F-16s have been built since then.[7] The airplane has been used by more than 25 air forces around the world.[8] It is also used by the Thunderbirds, the USAF's aerobatics team. As of 2015, there are more F-16s in military use than any other fixed-wing aircraft.[9]
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