F-16 fighters will produce up to 2017 year

The F-16 fighter is serially (almost continuously) manufactured from 1979, according to f-16.net.

Prototypes and aircraft of the installation batch were made from 1974 to 1978 years (YF-16, the first serial order was received in 1975 year), the active stage of mass production continued from 1979 to 2001 year (by this time, the aircraft of this type ordered 20 Air Force of the world) then, from 2002, production proceeds as orders from foreign customers arrive (F-16C / D block 40 / 42 / 50 / 52 fighters, as well as F-16I for the Israeli Air Force and the block 60 model for the UAE Air Force).

The graph shows the pace of production (orders) of fighters from 1974 to 2016 (there were also canceled orders, for example, an order from Iran for 160 F-16, which was canceled after the fall of the Shah regime in 1979 year). It is possible that the production will continue for some time outside of the 2016 of the year, as countries like Colombia are interested in purchasing them, reports aereo.jor.br. Currently more than 4500 fighters of this type, which are in service with the 26 Air Force of the world, have been produced. The US Air Force plans to operate these aircraft up to 2025 year as they are replaced by fifth-generation F-35 fighters, according to lockheedmartin.com.

Comments

[smiths xnumx]

Serious production. It seems that this is the most massive aircraft in its class.

[smiths xnumx]

The first combat use of the F-16 was recorded on April 26, 1981 in Lebanon. The first air victories were won - two Mi-117 helicopters from the Syrian military contingent in Lebanon were shot down by aircraft of the 8th squadron. On July 14 of the same year, the F-16 (pilot - Amir Nakhumi, commander of the 110th squadron) won the first aerial victory over the aircraft, shooting down the Syrian MiG-21 fighter. On the eve of and during Operation Peace of Galilee, in the summer of 1982, the F-16 was one of the two main fighters of the Israeli Air Force. It was widely used in air battles with Syrian aviation, mainly by MiG-21, MiG-23MS / MF and MiG-23BN aircraft. Subsequently, aircraft of this type continued to be involved in raids on Palestinian bases in Lebanon; during such a raid on November 23, 1989, one aircraft was damaged by anti-aircraft fire, but subsequently returned to duty. Russian sources claim that 5 F-16s were shot down by MiG-23MF fighters.
F-16B, Ramat David Air Base, early 80s

During the failed coup attempt in Venezuela in November 1992, under the leadership of Hugo Chavez, both squadrons of the country's air force, armed with F-16s, remained loyal to the government. They carried out shock missions, and also shot down 3 rebel aircraft (turboprop OV-10 Bronco).
F-16 Venezuelan Air Force

F-16s from the air forces of several NATO countries took part in patrolling the no-fly zone over Bosnia, introduced in 1993. At the same time, there was one air battle (February 28, 1994), in which American fighters managed to destroy 5 attack aircraft of the Bosnian Serbs 5 J-1 "Yastreb". In August-September 1995, aircraft from the United States, Denmark and the Netherlands attacked Serbian positions as part of Operation Deliberate Force. During operations over Bosnia, one F-16 was lost to the US Air Force - it was shot down from the ground on June 2, 1995; the pilot ejected and was evacuated a few days later. During the 1999 air campaign, the F-16 was one of NATO's main attack aircraft; aircraft of the USAF, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Turkey participated in the hostilities. American aircraft were actively used to combat Yugoslav radars. During the campaign, the F-16 pilots won two aerial victories over the MiG-29 fighters, one of which belonged to a pilot of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. According to NATO official data, the losses amounted to one aircraft, which was shot down on May 2 by an S-125 anti-aircraft missile system; the pilot ejected and was evacuated. Serbian and Russian sources claim heavier casualties (no less than 7 “reliably shot down” F-16s.)
F-16 4th FS, 388th TFW, U.S. Air Force

[smiths xnumx]

The F-16 was the most massive combat aircraft of the Multinational Force aviation (a total of 249 units were involved) and made the largest number of sorties (about 13). It was used as a strike aircraft and to suppress the enemy radar ("Wild Weasel"). Losses amounted to 450 irretrievable (including 11 during the war, 8 of them were shot down by the enemy) and 3 damaged aircraft. In January 5, American F-1993s participated in a raid on air defense positions. F-16 shot down 16 Iraqi aircraft that invaded the non-flight zone - MiG-2 and an unknown type. In December 25, F-1998s were used in a short military operation against Iraq, the Desert Fox. After it, the F-16s continued to patrol non-flying areas and participated in many incidents related to the actions of the Iraqi air defense system. As before, the American F-16s were used as attack aircraft. During the invasion of coalition forces in Iraq (March-April 16), they did not have losses and air victories due to the complete inaction of the Iraqi Air Force.
The wreckage of F-16, shot down during Operation Desert Storm

Since the mid-1980s, Pakistani fighters have been active in the area of ​​the Afghan-Pakistani border, protecting the country's airspace from periodic invasions of the aviation of the USSR and Afghanistan. In 1986-1989, F-16 fighters shot down to 13 Afghan Su-22s, An-24s and An-26s, as well as a number of helicopters and the Soviet Su-25 attack aircraft piloted by Alexander Rutsky (August 4, 1988). It was also claimed that two MiG-2 fighters were shot down in one battle, which is not true. On April 23, 29, the F-1987 was lost under mysterious circumstances. TASS said the plane was shot down by Afghanistan's air defense. Some sources claim that the F-16 was shot down by a missile launched by the Soviet MiG-16 fighter in the opposite direction. June 23, 8 Pakistani F-2002 shot down the Indian UAV Searcher I.

Both Turkish and Greek F-16s have repeatedly participated in air incidents between the air forces of the two countries. On October 8, 1996, a Greek Fighter Mirage 2000 shot down a Turkish F-16, one of whose crew members died. Information about this case was hidden by both parties and was recognized by the Turkish representative only in 2003.
On June 18, 1992, during the interception of two Turkish F-16s, the Greek Mirage F1 crashed. On July 15, 1993, during a training flight, the Greek F-16 crashed; according to one version, it could be intercepted by the Turkish F-16.
On February 8, 1995, a Turkish F-16, flying into Greek airspace, was intercepted by 2 Greek Mirage F1s and crashed while maneuvering the F-16. On May 23, 2006, Greek F-16 and Turkish F-16 collided, which performed reconnaissance flight. Both planes crashed.
The Turkish-Greek conflict is the only one where the F-16 fighter suffered confirmed losses in air battles, in total 3 Turkish F-16s and 3 Greek F-16s were lost (1 possible).
In September 2013, Turkish F-16s shot down a Syrian Mi-17 helicopter that invaded Turkish airspace.
According to the material of sites

http://www.airwar.ru/index.html

http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16_Fighting_Falcon

[AVV]

The Americans are offering it to everyone, it’s already an old technique, or rather the outdated development and sales level is falling every year! But it has been produced a lot, and is still in service in many countries!

[xetai9977]

The plane came out very successful. Countries are still modernizing and using it.

[ayyildiz]

Flying in the rain Ф-16!

[Constantine]

Quote: xetai9977

The plane came out very successful. Countries are still modernizing and using it.

Considering the situation with the F-35, the production of the F-16 will take even longer than before 2017. Look, they will make the "Silent / Stels" modification

[spirit]

another 50 years will fly) I feel that the 5th generation will be problematic) and it is unnecessary for many.

[Russ69]

Admittedly, a very successful plane for the Americans turned out ...
But the time comes for him, although with modernization he still has to fly for a long time ...

[alone]

one of the most successful aircraft in the history of military aviation. although it has been in service for quite some time, but the modernization resource has not been exhausted and can last for a long, long time

[rrrd]

one of the beautiful airplanes.