F-16 Fighting Falcon

The world's most widely operated fourth-generation multirole fighter, continuously upgraded for over four decades, now fielded in its latest Block 70/72 "Viper" configuration with active electronically scanned array radar and network-enabled avionics.

Overview

The F-16 Fighting Falcon (universally known as the "Viper") is a single-engine, multirole tactical fighter that entered service with the United States Air Force in 1979 and has since been procured by over 25 nations. Originally designed as a lightweight daytime air-superiority fighter under the Lightweight Fighter program, the F-16 evolved into an all-weather multirole platform through successive block upgrades. The current new-build production standard, the Block 70/72 (branded F-16V), incorporates the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), an advanced mission computer, and a conformal fuel tank option, placing it firmly within the 4.5-generation category.

🔒 The full F-16 Fighting Falcon file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →