MILAVIA - MILITARY AVIATION

History

In the early 1970s the US Air Force required a light-weight air combat fighter. On 2 February 1974 the YF-16 designed by General Dynamics made its first flight. The YF-16 emerged from a competitive evualuation agianst the Northrop YF-17. Not only because of its superior performance and innovative design but also because of the lower estimated production costs.

Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway and later Portugal had an agreement with the USA to jointly produce the aircraft. Recently Italy agreed to order a package of F-16 aircraft, parts and weapons to replace its last ageing F-104 Starfighters until the long awaited Eurofighter Typhoon enters service between 2004-2010.

The latest generation of the Falcon are the Block 60 F-16E single and F-16F two-seat fighters. These aircraft feature the latest technology improving the combat effectiveness and multi-role capability of the aircraft. Deliveries of these variants have started. The United Arab Emirates is the first customer. The first Block 60 made its maiden flight in December 2003. Meanwhile Israel is taking deliveries of the F-16I, which is a customized version of the F-16E/F with Israeli avionics and weapons.

USAF F-16s were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft. These fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missiles sites and a variety of other targets. USAF, Dutch, Turkish and Belgian (?) F-16s flew air combat mission over Bosnia in 1995 performing multiple tasks. Most recently in the Spring of 1999 during Operation Allied Force, F-16s multi-mission fighters flew a variety of missions to include suppression of enemy air defense, offensive counter air, defensive counter air, close air support and forward air controller missions. Mission results were outstanding as these fighters destroyed radar sites, vehicles, tanks, MiGs and buildings. A Dutch F-16AM shot down a MiG-29 Fulcrum using a medium range air-to-air AIM-120 AMRAAM missile.

On 18 March 2005, Lockheed Martin Aero plant in Fort Worth, Texas, delivered the final F-16 Fighting Falcon for the US Air Force. Lockheed Martin continues to produce the F-16 fighter for international customers. A total of 2231 F-16s have been produced for the U.S. Air Force, the active USAF fleet of today counting more than 1300 aircraft.