Competitors Of Military Aircrafts

COMPETITORS OF MILITARY AIRCRAFTS

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F-16 Fighting Falcon
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F-16 Fighting Falcon |
A USAF F-16C |
Type | Multirolefighter |
Manufacturer | General Dynamics
Lockheed Martin |
Maiden flight | 2 February 1974 |
Introduction | 17 August 1978 |
Status | Active |
Primary users | United States Air Force
25other users (see list of operators) |
Number built | ~4,200 |
Unit cost | F-16A/B: US$14.6 million
F-16C/D: US$18.8 million (1998)[1] |
Variants | General Dynamics F-16XL
F-16 VISTA
MitsubishiF-2 |
The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweightfighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason it was a success on the export market, serving 24 countries. The F-16 is the largest Western fighterprogram with over 4,000 aircraft built since production started in 1976. Though no longer produced for the US Air Force, it is still produced for export. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraftmanufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
The Fighting Falcon is a dogfighter with innovationsincluding a frameless, bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot. It was alsothe first fighter aircraft to be deliberately built to sustain 9-g turns. It has a thrust-to-weight ratio greater than one, providing enough power to climb and accelerate vertically - if necessary.Although the F-16's official name is "Fighting Falcon", it is known to some of its pilots as the "Viper", after the Battlestar Galactica starfighter.

* It represents 36% of the market share....