F-16 Fighting Falcon

By Lockheed Martin



When a Lightweight Fighter Program solicited design specifications from several American manufacturers, the objective was to develop a true air superiority lightweight fighter. The competition, completed in early 1975, actually provided two prototypes which performed so well, they were both selected for military service. In January of 1975, the Air Force announced that the YF-16’s performance made it the winner of its Air Combat Fighter (ACF) Competition. The F-16 offered high-G maneuvering and lower production costs than what had been expected. Thus, the F-16 Fighting Falcon joined America’s weapons systems. The first F-16A was delivered to the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Foreign military sales exported the F-16 to both Taiwan and the United Arab Emirates.

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