The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force (USAF). Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft with over 4,600 built since 1976. Although no longer purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built for export. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation,
which became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.

General information
Type
Multirole fighter, air superiority fighter
National origin
United States
Manufacturer
General Dynamics (1974–1993)
Lockheed Corporation (1993–1995)
Lockheed Martin (1995–)
Built by
SABCA (1979–1985)
Fokker (1979–1982)
KAI (1994–2004)
TUSAS (1987–2011)
Status
In service
Primary users
United States Air Force
25 other users (see operators page)
Number built
4,604 (as of June 2018)
History
Manufactured
1973–2017, 2019–present
Introduction date
17 August 1978; 46 years ago
First flight
20 January 1974; 51 years ago (unplanned)
2 February 1974; 51 years ago (official)
Variants
General Dynamics X-62 VISTA
Developed into
Vought Model 1600
General Dynamics F-16XL
Mitsubishi F-2
The F-16's key features include a frameless bubble canopy for enhanced cockpit visibility, a side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, an ejection seat reclined 30 degrees from vertical to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system that helps to make it an agile aircraft. The fighter has a single turbofan engine, an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 hardpoints. Although officially named "Fighting Falcon", the aircraft is commonly known by the nickname "Viper" among its crews and pilots.

In addition to active duty in the U.S. Air Force, Air Force Reserve Command, and Air National Guard units, the aircraft is also used by the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, the US Air Combat Command F-16 Viper Demonstration Team, and as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the United States Navy. The F-16 has also been procured by the air forces of 25 other nations.
As of 2025, it is the world's most common fixed-wing aircraft in military service, with 2,084 F-16s operational

AG1:Flaps
AG2:Light
AG3:Drop FuelTank