F-16 Fighting Falcon

 

F-16 Fighting Falcon

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine multi-role fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority daylight fighter, it has evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. More than 4,600 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Although no longer being purchased by the US Air Force, improved versions are being developed for export customers. General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to Lockheed Corporation in 1993, which became part of Lockheed Martin after its 1999 merger with Martin Marietta.

                       3-view drawing of the F-16

        Bottom view of F-16 during vertical climb                            

        Using the afterburner

Specifications

• Crew:  1
• Length:  49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
• Wingspan:  32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
• Height:  16 feet (4.9 meters)
• Wing Area:  300 sq ft (28  m2  )
• Airfoil :  NACA 64A204 
• Curb weight:  18,900 lb (8,573 kg)
• Gross weight:  26,500 lb (12,020 kg)
• Maximum takeoff weight:  42,300 lb (19,187 kg)
• Fuel capacity:  7,000 lb (3,200 kg) internal 
• Payload:  15,800 lb (7,167 kg) 
• Powerplant:  1 ×  General Electric  F110 -GE-129  for  Block 50 aircraft afterburning  turbofan , 17,155 lbf (76.31 kN) thrust dry, 29,500 lbf (131 kN) with afterburner (1 ×  Pratt & Whitney  F120 for B-25W aircraft, 17,800 lbf (79 kN) thrust dry and 29,160 lbf (129.7 kN) with afterburner.)
  

performance overview

• Maximum speed:   
•     Mach 2.05, 1,176 kn (1,353 mph; 2,178 km/h) at            40,000 ft,  
•     Mach 1.2, 800 kn (921 mph; 1,482 km/h) at sea            level 
• Combat range: 
• 295 nmi (339 mi, 546 km) with 4 × 1000 lb (454 kg)
• bombs on high-low-high missions
• Ferry range:   
• 2,277 nmi (2,620 mi, 4,217 km) with drop tank
• Service ceiling: 
•  58,000  feet (18,000 meters)
• g limit: 
•  +9.0
• Roll rate:  
• 324°/s
• Wing loading:  
• 88.3 lb/sq ft (431 kg/m 2)
• Thrust/Weight  : 
•  1.095 (1.24 with load weight and 50% internal fuel) 

weapon system

• Guns:  1 ×  20 mm (0.787 in) M61A1 Vulcan 6-barrel rotary cannon  , 300 rounds
• Hardpoints:
•          2 × wing-tip air-to-air missile launch rails, 6 × under-wing, and 1 × under- fuselage           pylon (2 of 3 for sensors) stations with a capacity of up to 17,000 lb (7,700 kg) 
• Rocket:
  
  • 4 × LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19/7 ×  Hydra 70  mm/  APKWS rockets respectively) 
  • 4 × LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19 ×  CRV7  70 mm rockets)
  • 4 × LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4 ×  Zuni  127 mm rockets)
• Missile :
  
  • Air to Air Missiles  :
    • 6 ×  AIM-9 Sidewinder
    • 6 ×  AIM-120 AMRAAM
    • 6 ×  IRIS-T
    • 6 ×  Python-4
    • 6 ×  Python-5
  • Air to Surface Missiles  :
    • 6 ×  AGM-65 Maverick
    • 2 ×  AGM-88 HARM
    • AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile  (JASSM)
    • 4 ×  AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon  (JSOW)
  • Anti-ship missiles  :
    • 2 ×  AGM-84 Harpoons
    • 4 ×  AGM-119 Penguin
• Bomb :
  
  • 8 ×  CBU-87 Combined Effects Munitions
  • 8 ×  CBU-89 Gator mines
  • 8 ×  CBU-97 sensor fused weapons
  • 4 ×  Mark 84  general-purpose bombs
  • 8 ×  Mark 83  GP bombs
  • 12 ×  Mark 82  GP bombs
  • 8 ×  GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb  (SDB)
  • 4 ×  GBU-10 Pavway II
  • 6 ×  GBU-12 Pavway II
  • 4 ×  GBU-24 Pavway III
  • 4 ×  GBU-27 Pavway III
  • 4 ×  Joint Direct Attack Munition  (JDAM) series
  • Air Modified  Munitions Dispenser (WCMD)
  • B61 atomic bomb
  • B83 Atomic bomb

Others : 

• SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod or
  
• AN/ALQ-131 and AN/ALQ-184 ECM pod centerline or
  
• LANTIRN, Lockheed Martin Sniper XR and LITENING Targeting Pod or
  
• AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System (HTS) pod (usually configured in station 5R with sniper XR pod in station 5L) or
  
• 3 × for ferry flights to 300/330/370/600 US gallon Sergeant Fletcher drop tank
  
• UTC Aerospace DB-110 Long Range EO/IR Sensor Pod Centerline

Avionics

• AN/APG-68  radar
• AN/ALR-56M Radar Warning Receiver
• AN/ALQ-213 Electronic Warfare Suite
• MIL-STD-1553  bus

Services:

USAF Armament: M-61A1 20mm cannon; External stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles, conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions and electronic countermeasures pod power plant: F-16C/D: a Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/ 220/ 229 or General Electric F110-GE-100/129 Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2) Range: 2,002 miles
One of the most versatile aircraft in the US Air Force inventory, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is the mainstay of the Air Force aerial combat fleet. With more than 1,000 F-16s in service, the platform is adapted to complete a number of missions, including air-to-air combat, ground attack and electronic warfare.
In an air combat role, the F-16's maneuverability and combat radius (that is, the distance to enter, stay, fight, and return to air combat) exceed those of all potential threat fighter aircraft. It can detect targets in all weather conditions and detect low-flying aircraft in radar ground clutter. In the air-to-surface role, the F-16 Fighting Falcon can fly more than 500 miles (860 km), deliver its weapons with high precision, defend itself against enemy aircraft and return to its starting point. An all-weather capability allows it to accurately deliver weapons in non-visual bombing situations.

Design of the F-16 Fighting Falcon

When designing the F-16, advanced aerospace science and proven reliable systems from other aircraft such as the F-15 and F-111 were selected. These were combined to simplify the aircraft and reduce its size, purchase price, maintenance costs and weight. The lighter weight of the fuselage is achieved without reducing its strength. With a full load of internal fuel, the F-16 can withstand up to nine G's -- nine times the force of gravity -- surpassing the capabilities of other current fighter aircraft.

Inside of the F-16 Fighting Falcon

The cockpit and its bubble canopy give the pilot unobstructed forward and upward vision and greatly improve side and rearward visibility. The seat-back angle was widened from the usual 13 degrees to 30 degrees, increasing pilot comfort and gravity tolerance. The F-16 has excellent flight control via the pilot's "fly-by-wire" system. Electric wire relay command, replacing the usual wire and connection control. For easy and accurate control of the aircraft during high G-force combat maneuvers, a side stick controller is used instead of the conventional center-mounted stick. Hand pressure on the side stick controller sends electrical signals to flight control surfaces such as aileron and rudder actuators.

The avionics system includes a highly accurate Advanced Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation System, or EGI, where computers provide steering information to the pilot. The plane has UHF and VHF radios and an instrument landing system. It has an alert system and modular countermeasure pods for use against airborne or surface electronic threats. The fuselage has space for additional avionics systems.

Background of the F-16 Fighting Falcon

            Pakistan Air Force F-16s    

The F-16A, a single-seat model, first flew in December 1976. The first operational F-16A was delivered to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah in January 1979.
The F-16B, a two-seat model, has tandem cockpits that are the same size as the A model. Its bubble canopy extends to cover the second cockpit. To make room for a second cockpit, the forward fuselage fuel tank and avionics mounting space were reduced. During training, the front cockpit is used by a student pilot and the rear cockpit is occupied by an instructor pilot.
All F-16s delivered since November 1981 have built-in structural and

United Arab Emirates
 Air Force F-16E Block 60 

Has cable provision and system architecture that allows for expanded multirole flexibility to perform precision strike, night attack, and visual-range interception missions. This improvement program led to the F-16C and F-16D aircraft, which are single- and two-seat counterparts to the F-16A/B, and incorporate the latest cockpit control and display technology. All active units and many Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units converted to the F-16C/D.

Why was the F-16 Fighting Falcon created?

The F-16 Fighting Falcon was built under an unusual contract that created a consortium between the United States and four NATO countries: Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway. These countries jointly built an initial 348 F-16s for their air forces with the United States. Final airframe assembly lines were located in Belgium and the Netherlands. The consortium's F-16s are assembled from components produced in five countries. Belgium also provides final assembly of the F100 engines used in European F-16s. Portugal recently joined the consortium. The long-term benefits of the program will be technology transfer between F-16 producing countries and a common-use aircraft for NATO countries. This program increases the supply and availability of repair parts in Europe and improves the combat readiness of the F-16.
USAF F-16 multirole fighters were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than any other aircraft. These fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missile sites and various other targets.
During Operation Allied Force, USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon multirole fighters flew a variety of missions to suppress enemy air defenses, offensive counter air, defensive counter air, close air support, and forward air controller missions. The mission results were outstanding as these fighters destroyed radar sites, vehicles, tanks, MiG's and buildings.
Since September 11, 2001, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has been a major component of combat forces committed to the global war on terrorism, flying thousands of F-16 Fighting Falcons in support of Operation Noble Eagle (Homeland Defense), Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Iraq.