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.

With tension in the Middle East always being very high and with the thought of Syria having nuclear capabilities the Israelis decided they had to do something to prevent this. So 30 minutes prior to midnight on September 5, 2007 8 Israeli aircraft from Squadron 69, Squadron 119 and 253 departed for the al-Kibar nuclear facility. After flying over Lebanon and the full length of Syria the aircraft located the objective and dropped 17 tons of PGBs on the site. At 2:30 AM September 6 the target was confirmed destroyed without Israeli losses.

General specifications F-16 Fighting Falcon

• Primary Function – Multi-role fighter
• Manufacturer – General Dynamics Corp. / Lockheed Martin Corp.
• Initial Unit cost - F-16C/D, $20 million plus
• First Deployed - January 1979 (F-16A)
• Crew – 1 x F-16C / 1 or 2 x F-16D

Dimensions

• Length - 49 ft, 5 in (14.8 m)
• Height - 16 ft (4.8 m)
• Wingspan - 32 ft, 8 in (9.8 m)

Performance

• Power Plant - F-16C/D 1 x Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229

or

• 1 x General Electric F110-GE-100/129
• Thrust - F-16C/D / 27,000 lb (12,150 kg)
• Speed - 1,500 mph (Mach 2 @ altitude)
• Ceiling - Above 50,000 ft (15 km)
• Maximum Takeoff Weight - 37,500 lb (16,875 kg)
• Range - Greater than 2,425 mi (2,100 nm / 3,900 km)
• Combat Radius F-16C 851.6 mi (1,370 km / 740 nm) w/ 2 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 U.S. gal external tanks 391.3 mi (630 km / 340 nm) w/ 4 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 340 U.S. gal external tanks 230.2 mi (370 km / 200 nm) + 2 hr. 10 min. patrol w/ 2 x AIM-7 + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 lb U.S. gal external tanks

Armament

• 1 x M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds
• External stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles Conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions Electronic countermeasure pods.

Info: Lockheed F-16I Sufa "Operation Outside the Box" No.470, 253 Squadron, 2022