The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the “Viper” and will remain in USAF service until 2025.

After much bickering between Pakistan and India, India decided it would send their aircraft to attack regions within Pakistan to prove their air superiority. On February 27, 2019 Pakistan initiated Operation Swift Retort and encountered Indian Air Force Aircraft. Over the Kashmir region the PAF F-16 92731 piloted by Wing Commander Noman Ali Khan encountered the IAF MiG-21 CU2328 piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and fired an AIM-120 missile. Later the F-16 received a kill mark located on the side of the fuselage near the left nose cone. F-16 92731 was produced in August 1993.

Info:     F-16AM "MIG-21 Killer" 92731, Pakistan Air Force, 2019