single engine fighter aircraft originally developed united_states_air_force designed air superiority day fighter evolved successful weather aircraft aircraft built production approved longer purchased improved versions built export customers sold aircraft manufacturing business turn merger key features including bubble canopy better visibility mounted control stick ease control maneuvering seat degrees reduce effect forces pilot use relaxed static stability fly wire flight control system helps aircraft internal vulcan cannon locations mounting weapons mission equipment official fighting falcon commonly pilots crews perceived resemblance snake colonial addition active duty units aircraft aerial demonstration team adversary aircraft united_states_navy serve air forces nations second common currently operational military aircraft world development program experiences vietnam war revealed need air superiority fighters better air air training fighter pilots based experiences korean war fighter tactics instructor early 1960s colonel mathematician developed energy theory model fighter aircraft performance combat work called small lightweight aircraft maneuver minimum possible energy loss incorporated increased thrust weight ratio late 1960s gathered group like minded known secured funding study design concepts based theory air force proponents remained hostile concept perceived threat program air_force leadership understood budget allow purchase aircraft satisfy missions advanced day fighter concept renamed gained civilian political support reform minded deputy secretary defense favored idea competitive result established key member proposals funded issued january called pound class air air day fighter good turn rate acceleration range combat speeds altitudes feet region studies predicted future air combat occur anticipated average cost production version million production plan firm plans winner finalists selected companies responded selected follow prototype development testing phase awarded contracts worth million million produce respectively flights prototypes planned early overcome resistance air_force hierarchy proponents successfully advocated idea fighters high cost low cost force mix high low mix allow able afford sufficient fighters overall fighter force structure requirements mix gained broad acceptance time prototypes defining relationship developed team engineers led rolled december minute maiden flight edwards california february actual flight occurred accidentally high speed taxi test january gathering speed roll control caused fin port mounted missile starboard ground aircraft began runway test pilot decided lift avoid potential crash safely landing minutes later slight damage quickly repaired official flight occurred time flight accomplished february second prototype flew followed flights prototypes june august respectively completed sorties total flight hours flew sorties covering hours air combat fighter competition increased interest turn acquisition program nato allies belgium denmark netherlands norway seeking replace fighter bombers early reached agreement ordered winner consider ordering needed replace phantom fighter bombers sought greater fighter air_force navy august navy funds new program fighter bomber variant nato allies formed multinational fighter program group pressed decision december accelerated testing reflect intent new fighter bomber program rolled new air combat fighter competition announcement secretary defense april clear order addition extinguished opposition raised stakes brought competitors intent securing touted time arms deal century proposed anglo french jaguar proposed offered similar jaguar cobra dropped early leaving european candidates september confirmed plans order winning design equip tactical fighter wings computer modeling predicted close contest proved significantly quicker going maneuver unanimous choice pilots flew aircraft january secretary air_force announced winner competition chief reasons given secretary lower operating costs greater range maneuver performance significantly better especially speeds advantage unlike use engine powerplant lower cost engines programs secretary announced planned order possibly production navy air combat fighter competition navy selected basis production initially ordered scale development aircraft single seat seat models flight test program reduced single design altered production fuselage lengthened larger nose fitted radar wing area increased height decreased ventral fins enlarged stores stations added single door replaced original double doors weight increased modifications manufactured texas late rolled october flew december initial seat model achieved flight august initial production standard flew time august delivery accepted january given formal nickname fighting falcon july entering operational service 34th tactical fighter squadron hill utah october june european partners known signed aircraft paris air split belgium denmark netherlands norway european production lines netherlands facility plant belgium produce units respectively norway denmark manufactured parts aircraft european production officially launched july factory beginning november produced components sent fuselage assembly shipped europe final assembly aircraft belgian plant february deliveries began january aircraft delivered june aircraft delivered late 1980s 1990s produced block production line license produced block egypt mid-1990s block opened production line program producing mid-1990s decade india selected sixth production line built india stated currently orders producing improvements upgrades change production augmented pitch control avoid deep stall conditions high angles attack stall issue raised development originally discounted model tests conducted revealed potential problem laboratory able duplicate flight tests sufficient expose issue later flight testing aircraft demonstrated real concern response areas horizontal increased aircraft later earlier aircraft addition manual switch disable horizontal flight prominently placed control console allowing pilot regain control horizontal flight lock place recover reducing risk deep stalls larger horizontal tail improved stability permitted faster takeoff rotation 1980s conducted evolve capabilities risks technology development ensure aircraft worth program upgraded stages process permitted quick introduction new capabilities lower costs reduced risks compared traditional independent upgrade programs allocated billion upgrade waiting enter service key upgrade auto ground collision avoidance system reduce instances controlled flight terrain onboard power cooling capacities limits scope upgrades involves addition power hungry lockheed won contracts upgrade foreign operator offers upgrades receiving orders south_korea turkey lost south korean contract price breach november assigned total upgrade contract upgrades include replaces analog flight instruments single digital display budget cuts cast doubt ability complete secondary programs taiwan upgrade general stated money service life extension program fund aircraft flying responded talk cancellation fixed price upgrade package foreign users included pentagon budget request said upgrade package offered taiwan lockheed said common elements radar unit costs issued design overview single engine highly multi role tactical fighter aircraft designed cost effective combat perform missions maintain clock readiness smaller lighter predecessors uses advanced including use relaxed static stability fly wire flight control system achieve enhanced maneuver performance highly fighter aircraft purpose built pull maneuvers reach maximum speed innovations include bubble canopy better visibility mounted control stick seat reduce force effects pilot armed internal vulcan cannon left wing root multiple locations mounting missiles bombs pods thrust weight ratio greater providing power climb accelerate vertically designed relatively inexpensive build simpler maintain earlier generation fighters airframe built aviation grade aluminum steel leading edge flaps ventral fins use aluminum structures number points fuel line connections significantly lower predecessors access panels accessed stands air intake placed nose forward minimize air flow losses reduce aerodynamic drag program called structural life flight hours capable achieving internal fuel engineers decided design airframe life hours maneuvers internal fuel proved aircraft mission changed solely air air combat multi role operations changes operational use additional systems increased weight necessitating multiple structural strengthening programs general configuration delta wing incorporating wing fuselage blending vortex control fixed geometry air intake plate single jet engine conventional tri plane arrangement moving horizontal pair ventral fins beneath fuselage aft wing trailing edge landing gear configuration aft nose gear deploying short distance inlet lip boom style aerial located single piece bubble canopy cockpit located aft end wing body mounted underneath fuselage beneath rudder houses equipment drag later models feature long dorsal fuselage spine housing additional equipment fuel aerodynamic studies 1960s demonstrated vortex lift phenomenon highly swept wing configurations reach higher angles attack leading edge vortex flow slender lifting surface high combat agility designers chose slender delta wing leading edge sweep straight trailing edge improve variable wing selected adjusted leading edge trailing edge linked digital flight control system regulating flight envelope moderate wing loading reduced fuselage lift vortex lift effect increased leading edge extensions known act additional short span triangular wings running wing root fuselage point forward fuselage blended fuselage wing root generates high speed vortex remains attached wing angle attack increases generating additional lift allowing greater angles attack allow smaller lower aspect ratio wing increases roll rates directional stability decreasing weight deeper increase structural strength internal fuel volume armament early armed heat seeking short range air air missiles employing rail launchers radar guided medium range weapons mix recent versions support aircraft carry wide variety air ground missiles rockets bombs electronic navigation targeting weapons pods fuel tanks wings fuselage locations fuselage available radar pods carries vulcan cannon close range aerial combat negative stability fly wire production fighter aircraft intentionally designed slightly unstable known relaxed static stability improve aircraft designed positive static stability aircraft return straight level flight attitude pilot releases controls reduces inherent stability overcome aircraft negative stability designed controlled flight speeds gains stability eventually positive aerodynamic changes counter tendency depart controlled flight avoid need constant trim pilot channel fly wire flight control system flight control computer accepts pilot input stick rudder controls control surfaces way produce desired result inducing control loss conducts thousands measurements second aircraft flight attitude automatically counter pilot set flight path leading common pilots don fly flies incorporates governing movement main axes based attitude angle attack prevent control surfaces inducing instability slips high inducing stall prevent maneuvers exert load flight testing revealed assaulting multiple high low speed result far exceeding limit colloquially referred departing causes deep stall near upright inverted high aircraft attitude stable control surfaces ineffective pitch locks extreme pitch pitch attempting recover pilot rock nose pitch control recover unlike controls serving backup took innovative step eliminating mechanical control stick rudder flight control surfaces entirely reliant electrical systems relay flight commands instead traditional linked controls leading early moniker electric jet design permits graceful degradation flight control response loss channel renders system began analog system variants supplanted digital computer system beginning block controls suffered sensitivity static electricity discharge models electronics vulnerable cockpit key feature cockpit exceptional field view single piece bird proof bubble canopy provides round visibility look angle aircraft nose compared common preceding aircraft pilot seat elevated purpose furthermore canopy lacks forward bow frame found fighters pilot forward vision aces zero zero seat unusual tilt angle fighters seat seat accommodate taller pilots increases force tolerance associated reports neck possibly caused incorrect head rest usage subsequent fighters adopted modest tilt angles seat angle canopy thickness seat lacks canopy breakers emergency instead entire canopy prior seat rocket firing pilot flies primarily means mounted stick controller instead traditional center mounted stick engine throttle conventional rudder employed enhance pilot degree control aircraft high combat maneuvers switches function controls moved hands throttle stick controls controllers throttle hand pressure stick controller transmitted electrical signals system adjust flight control surfaces maneuver originally stick controller non moving proved uncomfortable difficult pilots adjust resulting tendency rotate control stick given small play introduction controls standard feature modern fighters head display projects visual flight combat information pilot view able head cockpit improves pilot situation awareness flight systems information displayed multi function displays left hand primary flight display typically showing radar moving maps right hand system display presenting information engine landing gear settings fuel weapons status initially ray tube displays replaced color liquid crystal displays block introduced compatibility night vision available onwards targeting based pilot head faces high missiles like fire control radar originally equipped fire control radar array antenna designed compact fit relatively small nose mode uses low pulse repetition frequency high altitude target detection low environment look shoot employs medium heavy environments operating frequencies band provides air air seven air ground operating modes combat night bad weather block model added powerful signal processing higher output power improved reliability increased range environments program introduced new model features higher speed memory evolution introduced block greater range resolution operating modes including ground mapping beam ground moving target indication sea target track scan targets block model added compatibility lockheed navigation targeting red night pods high pulse track mode provide continuous wave radar target illumination semi active radar missiles like block initially reliable signal employing high speed integrated circuit technology advanced block equipped radar greater air air detection range synthetic radar mode high resolution mapping target detection recognition august contracted upgrade radars aircraft standard providing weather autonomous detection targeting gps precision weapons mapping terrain following radar modes modes outfitted active array radar developed latest radar upgrade selected upgrades named july announced developing generation radar based earlier radar competitor propulsion initial powerplant selected single engined whitney modified version rated lbf thrust testing engine found prone stalls engine thrust spontaneously reduce idle resolved air_force ordered operated dead stick landing distance bases standard engine new build introduced lbf later installed block aircraft main advance unit improved reliability reduced stall occurrence beginning production supplanted engines later aircraft upgraded onwards standard enhanced reliability engine reduced result program colloquially known great engine war saw entry general_electric engine provider limited original inlet thrust lbf common inlet allowed achieve maximum thrust lbf distinguish aircraft equipped engines block series blocks ending powered blocks ending fitted engines increased performance engine program led lbf block lbf block began flying engines early 1990s altogether ordered fitted series engines block powered maximum thrust lbf highest thrust engine developed operational history participated numerous conflicts middle_east united_states active duty units aerial demonstration team adversary aircraft united_states_navy naval strike air warfare center including flew combat operation balkans later 1990s patrolled fly zones iraq operations northern watch southern watch served wars afghanistan operation enduring freedom iraq operation iraqi freedom respectively air force took intervention libya scheduled remain service replacement planned variant lockheed martin lightning expected gradually begin replacing multi role aircraft program member nations delays program receive service life extension upgrades israel air air combat success achieved april syrian helicopter downed cannon fire june israeli escorted executed employment significant air ground operation raid severely damaged iraqi nuclear construction near baghdad prevent regime creation nuclear weapons following year lebanon war israeli engaged syrian aircraft largest air battles involving jet aircraft began june continued days credited air air kills conflict january israel completed purchase new planes deal totaling billion ground attack role strikes targets lebanon participated lebanon war attacks strip december lebanon war shot iranian launched air air missile pakistan soviet war january shot afghanistan probable shot pilots squadron squadron pilots destroyed kills destroyed cannon fire flight lieutenant credited kills lost battles encounter soviet air force april pilot ejected safely foreign internal military exercises exercise conducted jointly turkey fleet attack militant positions support operations pakistan november launched sorties operations dropped munitions laser guided bombs patrolled indian border tension india turkey acquired participated support united_nations resolutions june crashed turkish february crashed intercepted fighters october months greek reportedly fired magic missile shot turkish turkish pilot died pilot ejected rescued greek forces august downing turkish defence minister confirmed turkish shot magic violating greek near island greek intercepted turkish reconnaissance aircraft escorts coast greek island athens fir mock ensued sides resulting collision turkish pilot ejected safely greek pilot died damage caused collision turkey extensively conflict parts turkey iraq turkey launched cross border raid december prelude turkish northern iraq involving fighters operation sun time turkey mounted night bombing operation massive scale largest operation conducted tasked protection syrian border downing june turkey changed rules engagements syrian aircraft resulting syrian combat aircraft shot turkey syria border november egypt february egyptian performed air strikes weapons training camps libya revenge murder workers masked affiliated isis air strikes killed isis fighters including leaders coast flown combat missions serbian shot dutch war belgian participated joint operations war dutch belgian danish norwegian deployed intervention libya afghanistan libya norwegian dropped bombs flew missions total strike missions including bombing headquarters variants models denoted increasing block numbers denote upgrades blocks cover seat versions variety software hardware systems weapons compatibility structural enhancements instituted years gradually upgrade production models delivered aircraft produced according block designs variants significant changes usually modification programs changes resulted role close air support reconnaissance variants models developed test new technology design inspired design aircraft considered derivatives converted targets single seat seat initial production variants variants include block versions block major change larger horizontal numerous variant produced single seat seat variants entered production version block improved cockpit radar added weather capability visual range air air missiles block later versions unit cost million operational cost flight hour estimated depending calculation method single seat seat newer variants version based block developed especially features improved active array radar fuel tanks powerful engine indian competition offered super based block features fuel tanks radar engine controls electronic warfare suite red searching updated glass cockpit helmet mounted system longer competition september informed united_states congress possible foreign military sale aircraft associated equipment services newly reformed total value sale estimated billion adversary aircraft operated based standard block powered general_electric engine strengthened wing capable carrying pod starboard single seat twin seat based early production small inlet airframe retain radar addition aircraft cannon removed carry missiles fit consists radar warning receiver standard air_force aircraft carrier capable production totaled single seat twin seat initial batch aircraft service time cracks discovered bulkheads navy resources replace aircraft eventually retired aircraft sent collection florida remainder placed storage aircraft later replaced pakistani original inventory previously operated adversary squadrons virginia florida california current aircraft operated naval strike air warfare center nevada singapore air lockheed martin unveiled plans new variant nickname feature active array radar new mission computer electronic warfare suite cockpit improvements package option current production service september tested boeing air_force air_force pilots controlling airplane ground flew gulf_of_mexico operators delivered july operators italy italian air_force leased notable accidents incidents involved hull loss accidents june practicing aerial display maneuver second tail number texas prior sent paris air main landing gear jammed test pilot perform emergency gear landing chose grass hoping minimize damage avoid injuring observers aircraft slightly damaged prototype sent paris air place november training flight outside air base south_korea captain died crashed inverted mountain ridge widow filed lawsuit claiming electrical malfunction pilot error cause jury awarded million damages ruled contractor immunity lawsuits previous judgment court claim electrical malfunction cause noting knew instrumentation initially disclosed accident subsequent trial subject film march joint exercise pope north_carolina fighter wing fighter squadron engine approach collided crew members ejected aircraft continued arc struck boarded army accident resulted fatalities injured known disaster september crashed air idaho captain attempted split maneuver based incorrect mean sea level altitude airfield climbing ground level instead insufficient altitude complete maneuver able guide aircraft away spectators ejected second impact survived minor injuries aircraft destroyed procedure demonstration maneuvers changed requiring pilots controllers use ground level altitudes november air force crashed jordan technical problem pilot died january greek crashed performing nato training exercise spain crew members french soldiers ground died crashed flight line destroying damaging italian jets french 2000s crashed mission killing pilot july collided south_carolina pilot ejected safely people killed october pilot landing gear damaged takeoff aircraft crashed north_sea near pilot quickly extracted water minor injuries january 56th fighter wing crashed arizona killing pilot training aircraft display belgium display brussels display les france example germany display germany japan display japan netherlands designation display museum netherlands turkey block united_states virginia flight museum dallas texas mounted gate guard south_carolina cadet area colorado display ohio memorial park virginia production model delivered fighter wing park arizona gate guard vermont gate guard alabama heritage park alaska michigan fighter wing fighter wing combined headquarters utah display area kansas display montana gate guard florida display cannon air park new_mexico base park area adjacent south_carolina painted 20th fighter wing memorial killed flying display 8th street park douglas arizona gate guard florida pedestal mounted memorial arizona painted fighter squadron markings include world war airmen red tails uss alabama battleship memorial park mobile alabama ground mobile static display aircraft normally located new_york utilized fighter wing recruiting static display wing georgia memorial park static display idaho display colorado aircraft painted markings based utah utah new_york_city new_york display parade ground texas fighter wing aircraft destined transfer display air space museum arizona city park florida painted markings 56th tactical training wing fighter wing previously assigned nearby 1980s early 1990s air force armament museum florida memorial park static display puerto_rico painted markings marked display markings ohio museum aviation georgia memorial park florida fighter wing markings 56th fighter wing previously assigned 1980s display houston texas display naval air station aviation museum cape county airport new_jersey display alabama display adjacent texas oklahoma display gate guard new_jersey russell illinois display hill memorial park utah air park display indiana aircraft retains air force heritage paint scheme honoring world war display austin texas fighter wing fighter squadron aircraft static display preserved hangar nevada assigned number attached number season number number san diego museum san_diego california california palm springs air museum california fort worth texas painted colors naval air station pensacola pensacola florida air power park naval air station nevada specifications block data sheet characteristics crew length wingspan height wing area root tip weight loaded weight max takeoff weight powerplant block dry thrust lbf thrust lbf internal fuel pounds performance maximum speed sea level mph altitude mph clean configuration combat radius nmi mission bombs ferry range nmi drop tanks service ceiling rate climb min wing loading thrust weight loaded weight internal fuel maximum load armament guns vulcan barrel cannon rounds wing tip air air missile launch rails wing fuselage sensors stations capacity stores rockets rocket pods rockets respectively rocket pods rockets rocket pods rockets missiles air air missiles iris air ground missiles harm missile anti ship missiles mark general purpose bombs mark bombs mark bombs small diameter bomb iii iii joint direct attack series joint weapon wind corrected munitions nuclear bomb nuclear bomb pod pod pods lockheed martin sniper targeting pods drop tanks ferry flight extended range time long range pod centerline radar bus notable appearances media
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon