F-16 Falcon
F-16 Block 60 - MHI F-2A (aesa)
F-16 Block 52 / 52+ / 52M
F-16 Block 30 / 40 / 50
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Lockheed F-35 A/B/C---Dassault Rafale F3+
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole
jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the
United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight, daytime fighter, it
evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have
been built since production was approved in 1976. Though no longer being
purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are still being built
for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft
manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became
part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.The
Fighting Falcon is a dogfighter with numerous innovations including a
frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control
stick to ease control while maneuvering, reclined seat to reduce the
effect of g-forces on the pilot and the first use of a relaxed static
stability/fly-by-wire flight control system that makes it a highly
nimble aircraft. The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and has 11
hardpoints for mounting weapons, and other mission equipment. Although
the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", it is known to its pilots
as the "Viper", due to it resembling a viper snake and after the
Battlestar Galactica Colonial Viper starfighter. In addition to USAF
active, reserve, and air national guard units, the aircraft is used by
the USAF aerial demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and
as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the United States Navy. The F-16
has also been selected to serve in the air forces of 25 other
nations.The first Block 50/52 F-16 was delivered in late 1991; the
aircraft are equipped with improved GPS/INS, and the aircraft can carry
a further batch of advanced missiles: the AGM-88 HARM missile, JDAM,
JSOW and WCMD. Block 50 aircraft are powered by the F110-GE-129 while
the Block 52 jets use the F100-PW-229.This variant, which is also
known as the Block 50/52+. Its main differences are the addition of
support for conformal fuel tanks (CFTs), a dorsal spine compartment, the
APG-68(V9) radar, an On-Board Oxygen Generation (OBOGS) system and a
JHMCS helmet.The CFTs are mounted above the wing, on both sides of the
fuselage and are easily removable. They provide an additional 440 US
gallon or approximately 3,000 pounds (1,400 kg) of additional fuel,
allowing increased range or time on station and frees up hardpoints for
weapons instead of underwing fuel tanks. All two-seat "Plus" aircraft
have the enlarged avionics dorsal spine compartment which is located
behind the cockpit and extends to the tail. It adds 30 cu ft (850 L) to
the airframe for more avionics with only small increases in weight and
drag.Poland took delivery of its first F-16C Block 52+ aircraft on 15
September 2006. The "Poland Peace Sky program" includes 36 F-16Cs and 12
F-16Ds. All 48 aircraft were delivered in 2008.The Hellenic Air Force
took delivery of its first F-16C Block 52+ aircraft on 22 May 2008. The
total Greek order is for 20 F-16Cs and 10 F-16Ds. The remaining 26
aircraft should be delivered by March 2010. Pakistan Air Force has order
18 F-16C/D Block 52+ which include 10 F-16C and 8 F-16D. The Israeli
F-16I is based on the block 52+ aircraft.
Mitsubishi F-2 (MHI) -
Japan.
Some differences in the F-2 from the F-16A:
a 25% larger wing area, composite materials used to reduce overall weight and radar signature,longer and wider nose to accommodate a phased-array radar,larger tailplane,larger air intake,three-piece cockpit canopythree-piece cockpit canopy,capabilities for four ASM-1 or ASM-2 anti-ship missiles, four AAMs, and additional fuel tanks