The F-16'S Evolution from a Lightweight Day Fighter to a Deep
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© Cem DOĞUT The F-16’s Evolution from a Lightweight Day Fighter to a Deep Strike Aircraft In 1968, the United States Thus, it could easily change Indo-Pakistan conflicts, started a new aircraft its speed, altitude, and the USAF requested a fast project following the direction. Also, it would be and high maneuverable by Cem DOĞUT development of the high- difficult to detect the light aircraft that weighs 20 pylons was increased performance interceptor and, therefore, the small tons and is optimized for from two to three. The Mig-25 by the Soviet plane. It would also be combat at Mach 0.6 - 1.6 radar requirements were Union. The requirements cheap to manufacture and at an altitude of 30,000 - also changed, and the of the F-X project were operate. Later, Boyd and 40,000 feet. In May 1972, Westinghouse APG-66 40,000 lb. MTOW, a his team received funding the proposals of General multi-mode mission radar maximum speed of 2.5 from Northrop and General Dynamics and Northrop was selected. Mach, and a high thrust- Dynamics to develop these were selected, and the YF- to-weight ratio. In 1969, concepts. The Air Force did 16 and YF-17 prototypes On June 13, 1975, the U.S. McDonnell-Douglas's F-15 not support these efforts, were manufactured. The Air Force announced that was selected, leading the as it would undermine prototypes made their it had chosen the YF-16. In way to the birth of the the F-15 (Project F-X). maiden flights on February this choice, the P&W F100 fighter that would replace Finally, they realized that 2, 1974, and June 9, 1974, turbofan engines used in the F-4 Phantom II. It the budget would not be respectively. That same the F-15 aircraft played a carried a powerful radar enough to get enough year, NATO members significant role as much (APG-63) and plenty of F-15s and then the Fighter Belgium, Denmark, the as the YF-16's superior missiles (4 AIM-7 and 4 Mafia's ideas started to be Netherlands, and Norway acceleration, climbing, AIM-9) to deal with the valued. The Advanced Day wanted to replace their and maneuverability to the Mig-25. As the F-X project Fighter concept emerged F-104Gs. The winner of YF-17. This selection also continued, the challenges and was named the F-XX the LWF project would reduced engine unit costs of equipping the Air Force project. With the support also have the opportunity and operating costs. with such a capable and of the Department of to be sold to these expensive aircraft began Defense, the Air Force countries when the U.S. In the 1970s, the Fighter to arise. The team that led Prototype Study Group Air Force's desire to Mafia's ideas became a the debate was nicknamed was established in replace its F-4 and F-105 reality thanks to engineers the "Fighter Mafia" at the May 1971. Two of the six aircraft, combined with in Fort Worth, Texas. The time. The core staff of this candidates were selected, these countries' need for resulting lightweight team was Colonel John and the Lightweight a new fighter-bomber, the fighter incorporated Boyd, Colonel Everest Fighter (LWF) project was LWF project turned into various advanced Riccioni, Analyst Pierre initiated. The request for the Air Combat Fighter technologies that were Spray, and Engineer Harry proposal was published (ACF). The YF-16 aircraft not previously used in Hillaker. The Fighter Mafia on June 6, 1972. In light had also evolved into a operational aircraft. A believed that the ideal of the lessons learned multi-role fighter from LERX (leading-edge root fighter should be light from the Vietnam War, a day fighter, and the extension), which is a small and highly maneuverable. the Six-day War, and the number of its underwing extension to an aircraft 78 wing surface, was added the development of the © LM forward of the leading aircraft over time by taking edge to improve the a look at the notable airflow at high angles of blocks of the F-16. attack and low airspeeds. Additionally, the aircraft's F-16A/B Block 1, response time was 5 and 10 reduced by using the fly- After the prototype and by-wire system instead FSD programs, the first of the heavier hydraulic Block 1 F-16 (78-0001) system. The YF-16 is the flew for the first time on first aircraft designed August 16, 1978 and was and manufactured to be delivered to the U.S. Air aerodynamically unstable. YF-16, the prototype to the F-16 Fighting Falcon, flies an aerial refueling mission in March of 1975 Force that same month. This characteristic, which Most Block 1 and Block 5 is also known as Relaxed capabilities started to Air Force (EPAF) as 116 aircraft were upgraded to Static Stability, increases be increased during Full F-16s for Belgium, 58 Block 10 in 1982 under the the agility of the plane. By Scale Development (FSD). for Denmark, 102 for the Pacer Loft program. The its very nature, a stable The number of pylons Netherlands, and 72 for new production Block 10 aircraft wants to switch to was increased from five Norway. As part of this aircraft (312 in total) was a level flight if its controls to nine. By mid-1975, process, two production manufactured until 1980. are released. This is called the aircraft's size and lines were established in The differences between Positive Static Stability. weight increased with Europe, one at the Fokker these early F-16 versions RSS planes require new capabilities. Almost Schiphol-Oost plant in the were relatively small. The numerous control inputs two years after winning Netherlands, and the other Pratt & Whitney F100- or trim changes to fly. the ACF competition, at SABCA's Gosselies plant PW-200 afterburning On the other hand, these the first F-16A aircraft in Belgium. turbofan engine was momentary changes are manufactured by General used in the aircraft. It executed by the F-16's Dynamics made its first Starting from the initial has a thrust of 12,240lb onboard computer, flight on December 8, 1976, design phase, the F-16 (dry thrust) and 23,830lb which is integrated into followed by the F-16B in gained new capabilities (129.7 kN) with afterburner. the fly-by-wire system to August 1977. Unlike Soviet over time. All significant Starting with Block 1, all ensure that the aircraft aircraft, the two-seat F-16B changes on the F-16 F-16s were equipped with flies properly. The ejection had full combat capability, fighters are displayed in the ACES II ejection seat. seat reclined 30 degrees and both the F-16A and B Block numbers. As the The Tactical Air Command from vertical to reduce had the same dimensions. block number increases, officially named the F-16A the effect of g-forces on The only difference was the aircraft's capabilities the Fighting Falcon, the pilot. The plane also that the B models had also increase. During its but its pilots and crews features a side-mounted approximately 17% less development, the F-16 commonly used Viper control stick to ease internal fuel capacity. gradually became heavier because it was quick, agile, control while maneuvering. Internal fuel capacity as if mocking its original and very deadly. With the HOTAS, HUD, was lowered for the rear production purpose and and the bubble canopy, cockpit. turned into a multirole F-16A/B Block 15 the pilot's situational fighter aircraft. More awareness was increased. The USAF decided to than 4,500 planes were The production of All these technologies had buy 650 F-16s in the late manufactured under 983 Block 15s were been tried in some aircraft 1970s. On June 7, 1975, eight main models in 139 manufactured in three and research programs four European partner different configurations production lines (America, before. But with the YF-16, countries (Belgium, and were used by 29 Belgium, Netherlands) and it was the first time that all Denmark, the Netherlands, countries. More than spanned over fourteen elements came together and Norway), now known 3,000 operational F-16s years. Block 15s are the on a production aircraft. as the European Accession are in service today in 25 most produced model Group, ordered 348 countries. The first two YF- among F-16 aircraft. Many The LWF planes were F-16As/Bs at the Paris 16 prototypes and eight of them still fly in various designed to have Air Show for US$2,168 Full-Scale Development Air Forces around the high maneuverability; billion. Described as the (FSD) aircraft did not world. Its vertical stabilizer however, they had to sale of the century, this receive block numbers. is 30% larger. This is the grow when they were order was split among the These planes are called most apparent difference converted to ACF. Their European Participation Block 0. Let's examine between Block 15 and 79 © Cem DOĞUT Pakistani Air Force F-16B (MLU) during the Anatolian Eagle exercise previous F-16 versions. features improved small "Falcon Up" program, the countermeasure (ECM) The larger tail provides target detection and service life is extended to pods and advanced chaff/ better balance and control, “look-down, shoot-down” 8,000 hours. The most flare dispensers. Portugal, especially at higher attack capabilities. Block 15 critical element of the MLU Jordan, and Pakistan later angles. Block 15s gained aircraft were also equipped package is the Modular joined the MLU program.