F-16
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the most numerous fighter in Western service: more than 4,600 built since the type first flew in 1974, operated by 29 countries. Designed by General Dynamics under the US Air Force's Lightweight Fighter program of 1972, it has been a Lockheed Martin product since 1993, with new-build production moved to Greenville, South Carolina, in 2019.
The Block 70/72 configuration turned a legacy line into a second production run: per Lockheed Martin's June 2026 figures, 38 new-build jets have been delivered against a backlog of about 120, for seven countries including Taiwan, whose 66-aircraft order signed in 2019 is now delivering, and Peru, which signed in April 2026. Ukraine has flown donated European F-16s in combat since August 2024, the type's newest operational chapter.
F-16 at a glance
Half a century after its first flight, the F-16 exists in three broad current forms: legacy C/D fleets, in-service jets upgraded to the F-16V standard, and factory-new Block 70/72 aircraft built in Greenville.
Variant comparison
| Specification | F-16C/D | F-16V upgrade | Block 70/72 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration | Legacy single- and two-seat fleets | Modernization of existing airframes | New-build, GE F110 or P&W F100 engine |
| Radar | Mechanically scanned APG-66/68 | APG-83 AESA | APG-83 AESA |
| Service life | 8,000 hours | As per original airframe | 12,000 hours |
| Status | In service worldwide, being upgraded or replaced | Upgrades under way across many fleets | In production; about 120-jet backlog |
The Block 70/72 pairs the F-16V's AESA radar and modern cockpit with a new airframe rated for 12,000 flight hours, and its customers, from Slovakia and Bulgaria to Taiwan and Peru, are what keep the line running in its sixth decade.
Full specifications
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Operators
Frequently asked questions
Yes. New Block 70/72 aircraft are built in Greenville, South Carolina, with a backlog of about 120 jets for customers including Taiwan, Turkey, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Peru.
More than 4,600 since 1974, making it the most-produced Western fighter of its generation, flown by 29 countries.
The F-16V is an upgrade of existing jets with the APG-83 AESA radar and a modern cockpit; the Block 70/72 is a factory-new airframe with the same systems and a 12,000-hour service life.