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F-16A/B
The F-16A (single seat) and F-16B (two seat) were initial production variants. These variants include the Block 1, 5, 10, 15 and 20 versions. Block 15 was the first major change to the F-16 with larger horizontal stabilizers. It is the most numerous of all F-16 variants with 475 produced.
[192] Many F-16A and B aircraft have been upgraded to the Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) Block 20 standard, becoming functionally equivalent to mid-production C/D models.
F-16C/D
The F-16C (single seat) and F-16D (two seat) variants entered production in 1984. The first C/D version was the Block 25 with improved cockpit avionics and radar which added all-weather capability with
beyond-visual-range (BVR) AIM-7 and AIM-120 air-air missiles. Block 30/32, 40/42, and 50/52 were later C/D versions.
[193] The F-16C/D had a unit cost of US$18.8 million (1998).
[67] Operational cost per flight hour has been estimated at $7,000
[194] to $22,470
[195] or $24,000, depending on the calculation method.
F-16E/F
The F-16E (single seat) and F-16F (two seat) are newer F-16 Block 60 variants based on the F-16C/D Block 50/52. The
United Arab Emirates invested heavily in their development. They feature improved
AN/APG-80 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, avionics,
conformal fuel tanks (CFTs), and the more powerful
General Electric F110-GE-132 engine.
F-16IN
For the
Indian MRCA competition for the
Indian Air Force, Lockheed Martin offered the
F-16IN Super Viper.
[202] The F-16IN is based on the F-16E/F Block 60 and features conformal fuel tanks; AN/APG-80 AESA radar, GE F110-GE-132A engine with
FADEC controls; electronic warfare suite and
infrared search and track (IRST) unit; updated glass cockpit; and a helmet-mounted cueing system.
[203] As of 2011, the F-16IN is no longer in the competition.
[204][
unreliable source?] In 2016, Lockheed Martin offered the new F-16 Block 70/72 version to India under the
Make in India program.
[205][206] In 2016, Indian government offered to purchase 200 (potentially up to 300) fighters in a deal worth $13–15bn.
[207] As of 2017, Lockheed Martin has agreed to manufacture F-16 Block 70 fighters in India with the Indian defense firm Tata Advanced Systems Limited. The new production line could be used to build F-16s for India and for exports.
F-16IQ
In September 2010, the
Defense Security Cooperation Agency informed the
United States Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale of 18 F-16IQ aircraft along with the associated equipment and services to the newly reformed
Iraqi Air Force. The total value of sale was estimated at US$4.2 billion.
[209] The Iraqi Air Force purchased those 18 jets in the second half of 2011, then later exercised an option to purchase 18 more for a total of 36 F-16IQs.
[210] As of 2021, the Iraqi had lost two in accidents.
[211] By 2023, the US government reported that these jets were Iraq's most capable airborne platforms with a 66 percent mission-capable rate. Their maintenance was being supported by private contractors. At the same time, Iraq's Russian-made systems were suffering from sanctions imposed in the wake of
Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
[212]
F-16N
The F-16N was an adversary aircraft operated by the
United States Navy. It is based on the standard F-16C/D Block 30 and is powered by the General Electric F110-GE-100 engine, and is capable of
supercruise.
[213] The F-16N has a strengthened wing and is capable of carrying an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pod on the starboard wingtip. Although the single-seat F-16Ns and twin-seat (T)F-16Ns are based on the early-production small-inlet Block 30 F-16C/D airframe, they retain the APG-66 radar of the F-16A/B. In addition, the aircraft's 20mm cannon has been removed, as has the airborne self-protection jammer (ASPJ), and they carry no missiles. Their EW fit consists of an ALR-69 radar warning receiver (RWR) and an ALE-40 chaff/flare dispenser. The F-16Ns and (T)F-16Ns have the standard Air Force tailhook and undercarriage and are not aircraft carrier capable. Production totaled 26 airframes, of which 22 are single-seat F-16Ns and four are twin-seat TF-16Ns. The initial batch of aircraft was in service between 1988 and 1998. At that time, hairline cracks were discovered in several bulkheads and the Navy did not have the resources to replace them, so the aircraft were eventually retired, with one aircraft sent to the collection of the
National Naval Aviation Museum at
NAS Pensacola, Florida, and the remainder placed in storage at
Davis-Monthan AFB. These aircraft were later replaced by embargoed ex-Pakistani F-16s in 2003. The original inventory of F-16Ns was previously operated by adversary squadrons at
NAS Oceana, Virginia;
NAS Key West, Florida and the former
NAS Miramar, California. The current F-16A/B aircraft are operated by the
Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at
NAS Fallon, Nevada.
[214][215][216]
F-16V
At the 2012 Singapore Air Show, Lockheed Martin unveiled plans for the new F-16V variant with the V suffix for its Viper nickname. It features an
AN/APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, a new mission computer and electronic warfare suite, an automated ground collision avoidance system, and various cockpit improvements; this package is an option on current production F-16s and can be retrofitted to most in service F-16s.
[217][218] First flight took place 21 October 2015.
[219] Taiwanese media reported that Taiwan and the U.S. both initially invested in the development of the F-16V.
[220] Upgrades to Taiwan's F-16 fleet began in January 2017.
[221] The first country to confirm the purchase of 16 new F-16V Block 70/72 was Bahrain.
[222][223] Greece announced the upgrade of 84 F-16C/D Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced (Block 52M) to the latest V (Block 70/72) variant in October 2017.
[224][225] Slovakia announced on 11 July 2018 that it intends to purchase 14 F-16V Block 70/72 aircraft.
[226][227] Lockheed Martin has redesignated the F-16V Block 70 as the "F-21" in its offering for India's fighter requirement.
[228] Taiwan's
Republic of China Air Force announced on 19 March 2019 that it formally requested the purchase of an additional 66 F-16V jets.
[229] The
Trump administration approved the sale on 20 August 2019.
[230][231] On 14 August 2020, Lockheed Martin was awarded a
US$62 billion contract by the US DoD
[232] that includes 66 new F-16s at US$8 billion for Taiwan.
QF-16
In September 2013,
Boeing and the U.S. Air Force tested an unmanned F-16, with two US Air Force pilots controlling the airplane from the ground as it flew from
Tyndall AFB over the
Gulf of Mexico.
