The F-16V (Viper), also designated as the F-16 Block 70/72, represents the most recent iteration of the esteemed F-16 Fighting Falcon fourth-generation multi-role fighter aircraft, produced by Lockheed Martin. This variant incorporates advanced capabilities through a comprehensive upgrade package designed to enhance interoperability with fifth-generation fighters, such as the F-35 and F-22.
Overview of the F-16V
The F-16V is engineered for a wide array of combat roles. It is capable of undertaking missions involving the suppression of enemy air defences, air-to-ground and air-to-air engagements, deep interdiction, and maritime interdiction. A key feature is its airborne mission role-change capability, allowing flexibility in dynamic combat situations. The aircraft excels at detecting and tracking time-critical, hard-to-find targets irrespective of weather conditions. Furthermore, upgrades aim to reduce operational costs for the nations operating the aircraft.
Image: F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role fighter in flight, highlighting its widespread service across more than 20 countries.
The legacy F-16 Fighter Falcon Aircraft is a cornerstone of air forces globally, currently in service with the armed forces of over 20 countries. This extensive list includes the US and key allied nations such as Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Romania, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovakia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and the UAE. The enduring nature of the F-16 is a testament to its continuous evolution.
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The F-16 fleet has undergone consistent upgrades over the years, aimed at bolstering its capabilities and effectiveness in increasingly sophisticated combat scenarios. Structural enhancements and capability modernizations are projected to keep the F-16 fleet operational well into the future, potentially remaining relevant until 2060 and beyond.
Development History
The F-16V jet fighter made its initial public appearance at the Singapore Air Show in February 2012. The Viper configuration is available for newly manufactured aircraft, and Lockheed Martin also offers a component upgrade package for existing F-16 versions already in service.
In October 2012, Lockheed Martin was awarded a substantial $1.85 billion contract by the US Government. This contract was for the upgrade of 145 Block 20 F-16A/B aircraft belonging to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Air Force, leveraging technologies developed for the F-16 Viper variant.
A significant technological integration was the new active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar on the Viper aircraft, which was completed in August 2014.
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Lockheed Martin showcased the F-16V cockpit demonstrator in Jakarta, Indonesia, in October 2015, as part of efforts to engage the Indonesian Air Force.
In February 2021, the first F-16 aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force, upgraded to the Viper V configuration, arrived in the US for necessary testing.
The maiden flight of the first F-16 Block 70 took place at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina, in January 2023. This aircraft was the first of 16 slated for delivery to Bahrain. Lockheed Martin officially delivered this first F-16 Block 70 aircraft to the Royal Bahraini Air Force in March 2023. Beyond Bahrain, five other nations, including the United States, the Philippines, Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Greece, have also selected the F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft for their air forces.
Technical Features
The F-16V variant boasts significant advancements in its core systems, ensuring its effectiveness in modern aerial combat environments.
Cockpit and Avionics
The advanced glass cockpit of the F-16V incorporates a number of key upgrades. These include a more powerful mission computer and state-of-the-art avionics. The cockpit features colour multi-function displays, a large, high-resolution centre pedestal display (CPD), a helmet-mounted cueing system, and a high-volume, high-speed data bus.
Image: Profile view of an F-16V Viper fighter jet on the tarmac, showcasing its updated airframe.
The CPD plays a crucial role in enhancing pilot situational awareness by supporting real-time processing and imaging of critical flight safety data. The F-16 Viper is further equipped with an upgraded, programmable display generator, a Link-16 theatre data link for secure communications, identification friend or foe (IFF) capabilities, and advanced HF/UHF/VHF radio communications systems.
The single, high-performance, modular mission computer replaces three older computers, providing significantly increased computing power for the avionics and weapon systems. This upgrade leads to improved situational awareness, enhanced air-to-air strike performance, more accurate targeting, and superior information management capabilities. The aircraft’s gigabit ethernet-based architecture facilitates efficient control of electronic warfare (EW) displays and other avionics systems.
Advanced navigation systems include precision GPS navigation and an automated ground collision avoidance system (Auto GCAS). The Auto GCAS provides timely alerts of an imminent collision with the ground and, in the event of pilot incapacitation or unresponsiveness, can automatically take control of the aircraft to prevent impact.
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Pilot safety is paramount, and the F-16V is fitted with Martin-Baker’s US18E ejection seat. This seat offers fifth-generation escape performance, featuring a modular design for easier maintenance, an electronic sequencer, a neck protection device, head support, and a larger diameter parachute (IGQ6000).
Weapon Systems
The F-16V can be armed with a diverse range of air-to-air missiles (AAMs). These include short-range AAMs such as AIM-9 Sidewinder, Magic II, and ASRAAM, alongside medium-range AAMs like AIM-7, Sky Flash, and AIM-120. The aircraft also supports high off-bore-sight, infrared AAMs, including AIM-9X, Python IV, AIM-132 ASRAAM, and IRIS-T.
For air-to-surface missions, the aircraft can integrate anti-ship missiles such as AGM-119, AGM-84, and AGM-65G, as well as the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground tactical missile. Its payload capabilities extend to various bombs, including Paveway laser-guided bombs, GBU-15 bombs, and wind-corrected munitions dispenser weapons.
In March 2021, L3Harris introduced the AN/ALQ-254(V)1 Viper Shield, a cutting-edge, all-digital EW suite specifically developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin for integration into the baseline configuration of the F-16 Block 70/72. This advanced EW suite significantly enhances the aircraft’s survivability and mission success rate against modern threats.
Targeting and Countermeasures
The F-16V’s APG-83 AESA radar is central to its targeting capabilities. It enables all-weather targeting and provides high-resolution detection and imaging of ground-based targets. The phased array technology allows the radar to simultaneously operate in both air-to-air and air-to-surface modes, increasing mission flexibility.
Image: Lockheed Martin’s F-16V Viper Fighting Falcon, representing the most modern configuration of the F-16 aircraft family.
The onboard Sniper advanced targeting pod (ATP) provides the F-16 Viper with exceptional high air-to-surface and air-to-air targeting capabilities. It facilitates the accurate launch of all laser-guided and GPS-guided weapons against a variety of fixed and moving targets. The aircraft can also be equipped with FLIR/laser systems and various reconnaissance and navigation pods. The combination of the Sniper ATP and the Legion-ES™ infrared search and track (IRST) system further improves pilot situational awareness and enhances warfighter survivability in complex environments.
To defend against sophisticated threats, the Viper fighter is equipped with upgraded EW equipment and modern threat warning systems. These include jammers, threat warning receivers, external electronic countermeasures pods, and chaff and infrared flare dispensers, providing robust defence in challenging battlefield scenarios.
Engine
The power plant for the F-16V consists of either a single Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 or a General Electric F110-GE-129 turbofan engine. The F100-PW-229 engine delivers a thrust of 29,100lb, while the F110-GE-129 generates slightly more power at 29,500lb. These engines enable the aircraft to achieve a maximum speed of Mach 2 and provide a significant range of 1,740 nautical miles.
Orders and Deliveries
The F-16 Block 70/72 has seen significant interest from various global air forces. In November 2016, the US Air Force (USAF) awarded Lockheed Martin a foreign military sales (FMS) contract for the upgrade of 134 F-16 aircraft to the F-16V configuration for foreign partners.
A major order came in June 2018 when Lockheed Martin received a $1.12 billion contract from the US Government to produce 16 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft for the Royal Bahraini Air Force. The Kingdom of Bahrain holds the distinction of being the inaugural customer for the new production version, featuring advanced avionics, the APG-83 AESA radar, and modern weapon systems integration.
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Bulgaria’s acquisition of the Viper variant was approved by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), sanctioning the $1.67 billion sale of eight F-16 Viper fighter jets, along with associated weapons and training equipment, under the FMS programme.
In August 2019, the US State Department gave its approval for a potential $8 billion sale to Taiwan, encompassing 66 new F-16C/D Block 70 fighters and related support equipment, further bolstering the Republic of China Air Force’s capabilities.
The Government of the Philippines also received approval for a significant FMS purchase in June 2021. The DSCA greenlit the potential sale of F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft and related equipment valued at an estimated $2.43 billion.
Amidst regional tensions, Greece began receiving its upgraded F-16 Vipers for the Hellenic Air Force in September 2022. This is part of a $1.5 billion F-16 modernization programme aimed at enhancing the Greek fleet’s interoperability with Nato’s fourth and fifth-generation fighter aircraft and strengthening the nation’s defensive capabilities. By August 2023, the Hellenic Air Force had received the tenth upgraded F-16 jet in the Viper configuration.
Further deliveries continued into 2023 and 2024. Lockheed Martin successfully completed the maiden flight of the first F-16 Block 70 aircraft designated for the Slovak Republic in September 2023. In January 2024, Lockheed Martin formally handed over the initial pair of F-16 Block 70 jets to Slovakia, marking a key milestone for the European operator.
Key Contractors
The development and production of the F-16V involve a network of specialized contractors. In December 2016, the Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) contracted Stauder Technologies to upgrade the existing IDM 302 avionics boxes on their F-16s with HydeDM 302 VMF Modems, improving digital messaging interoperability.
Image: F-16 Block 70 fighter jet making its maiden flight for Slovakia at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Greenville, South Carolina.
In support of India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, Tata Advanced Systems (TASL) and Lockheed Martin signed an agreement in September 2018 to commence the production of F-16 wings within India for export.
L3Harris Technologies was contracted by Lockheed Martin in March 2021 to develop the advanced EW system (Viper Shield) for the F-16, designed to protect the aircraft from evolving radar and electronic threats globally.
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Lockheed Martin also entered into a service agreement with Polish company WZL-2 in June 2021 to provide ongoing support for Poland’s F-16 fleet, ensuring their continued operational readiness.
Northrop Grumman plays a vital role in the F-16’s EW systems. In January 2021, the USAF selected Northrop Grumman to finalize the EW suite intended to replace legacy systems on its F-16 fleet. This led to a contract in May 2022 for Northrop Grumman to advance the development of the AN/ALQ-257 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) for testing and hardware qualification. By April 2023, the IVEWS had successfully completed US Air Force Laboratory Intelligence Validated Emulator (LIVE) testing, demonstrating its capability to counter modern radio frequency (RF) threats effectively.
Additionally, Amentum was awarded an $818 million contract in August 2023 to provide support and modernization services for the US Navy’s F-16 fleet stationed at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada, highlighting the ongoing maintenance and sustainment efforts for the type.
Conclusion
The F-16V (Block 70/72) represents a significant leap forward for the iconic F-16 Fighter Falcon Aircraft lineage. Through extensive upgrades to its avionics, radar, weapons systems, and electronic warfare capabilities, the Viper variant ensures the F-16 remains a highly capable and relevant multi-role fighter aircraft for decades to come. With ongoing production and modernization contracts with numerous international operators, the F-16V is poised to continue the legacy of the Fighting Falcon in meeting the challenges of modern aerial combat.
