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F-16 Fighting Falcon
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in
the United States. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a
successful multi-role aircraft. The F-16 was developed by General Dynamics. In
1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed
Corporation, now Lockheed Martin. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason
it was a success on the export market and is serving 24 countries. It is the
largest and probably most significant Western fighter program with over 4000
aircraft built. Though no longer produced for the United States Air Force, it
is still produced for export.
The Fighting Falcon is regarded as a superb dogfighter with innovations such as
the bubble canopy, side-mounted control stick, and reclined seat. It was also
the first US fighter aircraft to match the English Electric Lightning's ability
to execute 9 g (88 m/s²) turns. Although the F-16's official popular name is
"Fighting Falcon," it is well known as the "Viper," the General Dynamics codename
for the project during its early development.
Development
The F-16 originates in a set of specifications the United States Department of
Defense issued in 1974. The deficiencies of the F-4 Phantom II in aerial combat
in the Vietnam War, particularly at close ranges, shaped the specifications for
the F-15. An informal and influential group nicknamed the "Fighter Mafia", among
them systems analyst Pierre Sprey, test pilot Charles E. Meyers, and instructor
pilot John Boyd, believed the F-15 was a move in the wrong direction. They
argued that the F-15 was too large and expensive. Designed as a fast interceptor,
it had a wide turn radius and was not well suited to close range dogfighting.
The Fighter Mafia argued for a lighter fighter with superb maneuverability that
was cheap enough to deploy in numbers. These specifications became the Lightweight
Fighter (LWF) program, begun in 1971.
The LWF specified a plane weighing 20,000 pounds (9,000 kg), half the weight of
the F-15, stressing low cost, small size, range, and stressing maneuverability -
turn rate and acceleration - at the expense of top speed. Its ideal operating
environment was intended to be under Mach 1.6 and 40,000 feet (12,000 m). Two
companies were chosen during the concept stage: General Dynamics with the YF-16
design and Northrop with a design which bore the name YF-17 Cobra.
The LWF faced significant opposition in the Air Force because it was seen as
competition to the F-15, the Air Force's premier fighter program. To head off
opposition the project was redesignated Air Combat Fighter (ACF). At this time,
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway were seeking a replacement for
their F-104 Starfighters and formed the Multinational Fighter Program Group to
choose a replacement. Both ACF aircraft were in consideration as well as the
Dassault Mirage F1 and the Saab Viggen. Also during this time, the Navy was
looking for a low cost alternative to the F-14 Tomcat, a similarly expensive,
costly interceptor as the F-15, in a program called VFAX. Congress directed
the Navy to use the same aircraft as the ACF program. As the VFAX was
envisioned to be a multi-role aircraft, this requirement made it into the ACF
specifications as well, staving off direct competition with the F-15 as it was
pitched to be a counterpart.
On January 13, 1975, the Air Force chose the YF-16 as the winner of the ACF
competition as it gave superior performance across the board and promised to be
cheaper to procure and maintain. It also used the same engine as the F-15,
which F-15 supporters believed would help their program. There were also political
concerns with keeping General Dynamics in business after the end of the F-111
program. The US Navy chose to have the YF-17 design developed into the F/A-18
because it offered twin-engined reliability, then viewed as essential for
over-water operations.
The plane was offered to NATO members and made an appearance at the 1975, Paris
Air Show. The MFPG nations agreed to purchase 348 planes, with final assembly
to take place in Belgium and various parts subcontracted among them.
Production
Initially, the F-16 was manufactured in two models: A (single-seat combat version)
and B (combat-capable two-seat trainer). The F-16A first took flight in December,
1976 and was first delivered to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing in January, 1979.
In the same month they were delivered to the Belgian Air Force. The F-16 is
the first American fighter to be concurrently deployed domestically and abroad.
The B model is a trainer version with an extended canopy to accommodate a
second pilot, also reducing fuel and avionics growth space. Typically the student
sits in the rear cockpit.
In the 1980s, the F-16A/B was superseded by the F-16C/D with improved avionics
and engine. The F-16 has been continually upgraded throughout its production
history; block designations reflect significant upgrades and are outlined below.
The empty weight of F-16 grew from 15,600 pounds (Block 10 F-16A) to 19,200
(Block 50 F-16C).
Due to their ubiquity, the F-16s have participated in numerous conflicts, most
of them in the Middle East. In 1981, 4 Israeli F-16s participated in a raid that
destroyed Osiraq, an Iraqi nuclear reactor near Baghdad. The following year,
during the invasion into Lebanon, Israeli F-16s engaged in numerous occasions
with Syrian aircraft, ending up victorious at all times but one. F-16s were also
used afterwards in their ground-attack role for strikes against targets in
Lebanon. In the Gulf War of 1991, F-16s from the air forces of the Coalition
participated in the strikes against Iraq.
The Air Force now operates Block 40/42 and 50/52 F-16C's on active duty, while
Block 25 and 30/32 airframes have been moved to the Air National Guard.
The F-35 "Joint Strike Fighter" is the F-16's intended replacement, posessing
slightly improved performance and most importantly, stealth technology, which
will enhance its survivability in the modern battlespace.
Design characteristics
The F-16 is a single engine, multi-mission, tactical aircraft. It is equipped
with built-in M61 Vulcan cannon and can be equipped with air-to-air missiles.
However, the F-16 can also perform ground support tasks if necessary. For that
task it can be equipped with a large variety of missiles or bombs.
From the very beginning the F-16 was intended to be a cost effective
workhorse that could perform various kinds of missions and maintain
around-the-clock readiness. It is much simpler and lighter than its predecessors,
but uses advanced aerodynamics and avionics (including the first use of
fly-by-wire, earning it the nickname of "the electric jet") to maintain
good performance.
Ergonomics and visibility
The pilot sits high in the fuselage with the canopy support-bow behind him, out
of his line of view. This and the bubble canopy give the pilot optimal visibility,
a feature vital during air-to-air combat. The seat is reclined 30 degrees,
instead of the usual 13, to aid in dealing with G-forces. The control stick is
mounted on the right armrest rather than between the legs, as is traditional,
to aid in maneuvering during high-g turns. In addition, a holographic Head-Up
Display displays vital information in the pilot's field of view.
Fly by wire
The F-16 is an aircraft without direct linkages from the pilot's controls to
the plane's control surfaces. Instead, his control inputs are translated to
digital input to computers (quadruple redundant on the F-16) which then interprets
the optimal control changes to implement those directions. This is known as a
fly-by-wire system. It is faster to respond, more efficient (as it automatically
utilizes all control surfaces, enabling the elimination of unwanted side effects
like sideslip), and can result in a smoother flight as the computer can respond
to external conditions faster than a human can. More importantly, coupled with
input from the flight instruments, the computer can keep an inherently unstable
aircraft in stable flight through continuous tweaks to the control surfaces. This
enables the the F-16 to fly in spite of its negative stability.
Negative stability
An aircraft with negative stability will, in the absence of control input, depart
from level and controlled flight. Aircraft are typically designed with positive
stability where a plane tends to move towards level flight in the absence of
control input. However, positive stability hampers maneuverability as the tendency
to enter level flight interferes with flight maneuvers, and so a plane with
negative stability will be more maneuverable. With a fly-by-wire system such a
plane can be kept in stable flight, its instability kept in check by the flight
computers.
The YF-16 was the world's first aircraft to be aerodynamically unstable by design.
With its rearward center of gravity, its natural tendency during flight is to
pitch up rather than down as most conventional aircraft do. Level flight is
created by the elevator pushing the tail up rather than down, and therefore
pushing the entire aircraft up. With the elevator working with the wing rather
than against it, wing area, weight, and drag are reduced. The airplane is
constantly on the verge of flipping up or down totally out of control. This
tendency is constantly caught and corrected by the fly-by-wire control system,
so quickly that neither the pilot nor an outside observer could know anything
was happening.
Versions
F-16 models are denoted by sequential block numbers to denote significant upgrades.
The blocks cover both single and two-seater versions. An intricate Multinational
Staged Improvement Program was instituted to gradually upgrade the F-16 and
retroactively implement the upgrades in delivered aircraft.
F-16 A/B
The F-16 A/B was initially equipped with the Westinghouse AN/APG-66
Pulse-Doppler radar, Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 turbofan, rated at 14,670 lbf
(64.9 kN), 23,830 lbf (106.0 kN) with afterburner. The USAF bought 674 F-16As
and 121 F-16Bs, with delivery completed in March, 1985.
Blocks 1/5/10
Early blocks with relatively minor differences between each, most were later
upgraded to the Block 10 configuration in the early 80's. There were 94 Block 1,
197 Block 5, and 312 Block 10 aircraft produced.
Block 15
The first major change in the F-16, the Block 15 aircraft, featured larger
horizontal stabilizers, the addition of two hardpoints to the chin inlet,
improved AN/APG-66 radar, and increased capacity of underwing hardpoints. The F-16
gained the Have Quick I secure UHF radio. To counter the additional weight of
the new hardpoints, the horizontal stabilizers were enlarged by 30%. Block 15
is the most numerous variant of the F-16 with 983 produced. The last one was
delivered in 1996, to Malaysia.
Block 15 OCU
From 1987, Block 15 aircraft were delivered to the Operational Capability Upgrade
(OCU) standard, which featured improved F100-PW-220 turbofans with digital control
interface, the ability to fire the AGM-65, AMRAAM, and AGM-119 Penguin missiles,
countermeasures, cockpit upgrades, and improved computers and data bus. Its
maximum takeoff weight increased to 37,500 lb (17,000 kg). 214 aircraft
received this upgrade as well as some Block 10 aircraft, retroactively.
150 Block 15 OCU's for Taiwan.
F-16 C
Block 25
The Block 25 F-16C first flew in June, 1984, and entered USAF service in September.
The aircraft are fitted with the Westinghouse AN/APG-68 radar, have a precision
night attack capability, and are fitted with the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220E
turbofan with digital control interface. The USAF is the sole user of this
variant with 209 models delivered.
Block 30/32
The first aircraft subject to the Alternative Fighter Engine project under which
aircraft could be fitted with the traditional Pratt & Whitney engines or for the
first time the General Electric F110. Blocks ending in 0 are powered by GE,
blocks ending in 2 are fitted with Pratt & Whitney engines.
The first Block 30 F-16 entered service in 1987. Major difference include the
carriage of the AGM-45 Shrike and AGM-88 HARM missiles. Some Block 30D aircraft
were fitted with enlarged inlets for the increased thrust GE engine, Block 32s
were not modified in this way. 733 were produced and delivered to six countries.
Block 40/42 (F-16 CG/DG)
Entering service in 1988, the Block 40/42 is the improved all-day/all-weather
strike variant with LANTIRN pod. The night capability gives rise to the name
"Night Falcons". The block features strengthened and lengthened undercarriage
for LANTIRN pods, improved radar, and a GPS receiver. From 2002, the Block 40/42
increases the weapon range available to the aircraft including JDAM, JSOW, WCMD,
and the (Enhanced) EGBU-27. 615 aircraft were delivered to 5 countries.
Block 50/52 (F-16 CJ/DJ)
Block 50/52 was first delivered in late 1991, the aircraft are equipped with
improved GPS/INS. All aircraft feature helmet-mounted-cueing allowing
off-boresight air-to-air missile firing. The aircraft can carry a further batch
of advanced missiles; the Harpoon missile, JDAM, JSOW, and WCMD. Block 50 aircraft
are powered by the F110-GE-129 while the Block 52 jets use the F100-PW-229.
Block 50D/52D Wild Weasel An advanced suppression of enemy air defenses or
"Wild Weasel" capability is provided by the AN/ASQ-213 HARM Targeting System (HTS)
allowing greater range and more precision by utilizing the known range mode of
the HARM. It can carry the ALQ-119 Electronic Jamming Pod for self protection.
With the retirement of the F-4G Wild Weasel, the 50/52D is now the sole
provider of SEAD missions.
Block 50/52 Plus
These aircraft are fitted with the latest avionics and provisions for Conformal
Fuel Tanks (CFTs). All two-seat "Plus" airframes include the enlarged Avionics
Dorsal Spine which adds 30 cubic feet (850 L) to the airframe for more avionics
with only small increases in weight and drag.
F-16 CCIP
The Common Configuration Implementation Program seeks to standardise all Block
40/42/50/52 F-16s to 50/52 configuration for simplified training and maintenance.
F-16 E/F
Block 60
Based on the F-16C/D, it features conformal fuel tanks and improved radar and
avionics; it has only been sold to the United Arab Emirates. The General
Electric F110-132 is a development of the -129 model and is rated at 32,500 lbf
(144 kN). A major difference from previous Blocks is the Northrop Grumman APG-80
Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar. Block 60 allows the carriage
of all Block 50/52 aircraft-compatible weaponry as well as ASRAAM and the AGM-84E
Standoff Land Attack Missile (SLAM). The CFTs provide an additional 450 US gallons
(2,045 litres) of fuel allowing increased range or time on station. This has the
added benefit of freeing up hardpoints for weapons, i.e. hardpoints that would
have been occupied by underwing fuel tanks.
Other variants
F-16/79 - Modified export-version F-16A designed for use with the outdated J79
turbojet engine in answer to President Jimmy Carter's directive to curtail arms
proliferation by selling only reduced capability weapons. However, numerous
exceptions were made, and with the later relaxation of the policy under
President Carter and cancellation under President Reagan, no copies were
ultimately sold.
F-16/101 - Modified F-16A designed for use with the General Electric F101
turbofan engine from the B-1A program. GE attempted to rework the engine for
fighter usage, but it was never adopted for the F-16.
F-16ADF - upgraded Block 15 for United States Air National Guard's fighter
interception mission (hence the name Air Defense Fighter). Begun in 1989, 270
airframes were upgraded. Avionics were upgraded, and a spotlight fitted forward
and below the cockpit, for night time identification.
F-16I - a version with improved avionics, manufactured for Israel. Its avionics
were significantly modified with Israeli components, and conformal fuel tanks
fitted to increase its range.
F-2A/B(FS-X) - Indigenous F-16 inspired design produced in Japan by Mitsubishi
Heavy Industries, with cooperation from Lockheed Martin. It is larger and
utilizes mainly Japanese avionics.
F-16XL - a delta-wing version used by NASA for aeronautical research, once
conceived of as a possible competitor for the Enhanced Tactical Fighter program,
later won by the F-15E.
RF-16C/F-16R - reconnaissance version that carries the ATARS package.
F-16 MLU - (Mid Life Update) An update of the F-16 A/B for the Royal Netherlands
Air Force, the Belgian Air Force, the Royal Danish Air Force, the Royal Norwegian
Air Force and the Portuguese Air Force.
F-16N - 26 Block 30 aircraft delivered to the U.S. Navy for use as aggressor
trainers.
KF-16 - 180 licensed by Lockheed Martin in 1990's. Almost 2,500 parts changed
from the original F-16E/F. Also in the late 1990's, Lockheed and KAI produced
the first Korean Indigenous plane, the T-50/A-50. Modeled from the original
F-16. About $22 million in cost and the South Korean government has ordered
94 planes in 2004. About 1200 expected to be sold.
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.
It uses material from the Wikipedia article "F-16 Fighting Falcon".
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