The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single engine, highly maneuverable multirole fighter that entered United States Air Force service in 1978, developed with a relaxed static stability airframe and fly by wire flight controls that made it exceptionally agile for its era. Produced in enormous numbers and exported to air forces around the world, it became one of the most widely used and most produced Western fighter aircraft of the late twentieth century.
Facts
SignificanceAs of 2026 the F-16 is the world's most common fixed wing aircraft in military service, with 2,102 airframes operational, about 15 percent of all active combat aircraft. 1 FAQs
How did the F-16 come to be built?
It grew out of the early 1970s Light Weight Fighter program and won a fly-off against the Northrop YF-17 in 1975.
The F-16 began as the Light Weight Fighter program of the early 1970s, which sought a cheaper counterpart to the F-15 that was optimized for maneuverability and tactical attack missions. Foreign interest in a production model turned that program into the Air Combat Fighter program, which ended as a fly-off between the General Dynamics YF-16 and Northrop's YF-17. General Dynamics was named the winner in 1975 and was given a contract to develop a production F-16.
Connections
Of Make
Source Wikipedia: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
Preceded By
The F-16 entered USAF service in 1978 and mainly replaced the F-4 Phantom II in the tactical fighter role.
Source Wikipedia: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
In the Other Atlases
Manufactured By
Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.
Source Wikipedia: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting FalconSource page, makertier 2
Originated In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.
Source Wikipedia: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting FalconLead sentencetier 2Quote, Lead sentence
The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fourth-generation fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and produced by multiple companies, including General Dynamics until 1993 and Lockheed Martin since.
Sources
1. Wikipedia: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
WikipediaLead section, first paragraph
developed by General Dynamics and produced by multiple companies, including General Dynamics until 1993 and Lockheed Martin until 2017.
Lead section, first paragraph, final sentence
it is the world's most common fixed-wing aircraft in military service, with 2,102 from the F-16 family operational, comprising 15% of all active combat aircraft.
Lead section, fourth paragraph
Since its introduction in 1978, the F-16 became a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force's tactical airpower, where it mainly replaced the F-105 Thunderchief, A-7 Corsair II, and F-4 Phantom II.
Preceded By: McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Lead section, fourth paragraph, replaced-aircraft list
Since its introduction in 1978, the F-16 became a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force's tactical airpower, where it mainly replaced the F-105 Thunderchief, A-7 Corsair II, and F-4 Phantom II.
Of Make: General Dynamics, Lead
developed by General Dynamics and produced by multiple companies
In Group: Jet Fighters and Interceptors, Lead sentence
The General Dynamics (now Lockheed Martin) F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fourth-generation fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and produced by multiple companies, including General Dynamics until 1993 and Lockheed Martin since.
View the Source Pratt & Whitney F100 (Wikipedia)
Has Part: Pratt & Whitney F100, LeadQuote, Has Part: Pratt & Whitney F100, Lead
The F100 also powered the F-16 Fighting Falcon for the Air Force's Lightweight Fighter (LWF) program.
General Electric F110 (Wikipedia)
Has Part: General Electric F110, Applications, general-dynamics-f-16-fighting-falconQuote, Has Part: General Electric F110, Applications, general-dynamics-f-16-fighting-falcon
with the F-16C Fighting Falcon and F-14A+/B Tomcat being the initial platforms
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