Wingspan: 
     31 feet 
Length: 
     49 feet, 4 inches 
Height: 
     16 feet, 8 inches 
Weight: 
     42,300 lbs (Max) 
Speed: 
     1,320 + mph (Max) 
Ceiling: 
     53,000+ feet 
Range: 
     340 miles (combat), 2,415 miles (transit) 
Power: 
     One F110-GE-100 augmented turbofan engines w/afterburners or Pratt and Whitney F100-P-220 turbofan

Armament: One M61A1 Vulcan 20mm Cannon
(A mix of the following depending on mission:) 

     AIM-9 Sidewind er missiles 
     MK-82 500 lb general purpose bombs 
     MK-84 2,000 lb general purpose bombs 
     GBU-12 (500 lb laser-guided bomb) 
     GBU-10 (2,000 lb laser-guided bomb) 
     CBU-89 Anti-personnel cluster munitions 
     CBU-52 Anti-armor cluster munitions 
     Crew: 
          1 
     Service: 
          Air Force

     *The F-16 is a small and agile fighter in use by the Air Force for air-combat and attack roles. A new version of the F-16 is being considered a replacement to the A-10 to provide close air suppo rt to ground troops. The F-16 is an international fighter with many other countries, including Israel, using it as their standard fighter. F-16's are no stranger to Iraq as Israel used them in their 1981 attack on the Iraqi nuclear reactor at Osirak.

     Iraqi Counterpart--

     Iraq has three major types of dual-role aircraft, about 100 French Mirage F-1's in various configurations and Soviet built SU-20's and SU-24's. The SU-20 is an export version of the SU-17 "Fitter-C" jet in the Soviet arsenal. Ira q is estimated to have about 70 of these 1960's-era aircraft. The SU-24, on the other hand, entered service in the Soviet Union in the mid-70's as an attack aircraft capable of Mach 2. However, Iraq is estimated to have barely a dozen of these aircraft in its arsenal and they are no doubt falling victim to the spare parts shortage.

     Actions in Desert Storm--

     F-16's were used in an attack role against Iraqi fortifications in the KTO. One squadron of F-16's was used primarily as "spotter" aircraft, flying into an area and identifying targets for other aircraft to attack. F-16's were also used for combat air patrols, but given the Iraqi's unwillingness to fly against American planes, they did not engage many Iraqi planes.

     251 F-16's participated in Operation Desert Storm. They were used in an attack role against a variety of Iraqi miliary targets. On January 19, 56 F-16's attacked the Baghdad Nuclear Research Center in the largest single raid of the war. Five F-16's were lost in combat.

Fly the F-16, on your computer

Falcon 4.0
Janes Interactive for the Macintosh

Falcon 4.0
Janes Interactive for the Windows

F-16 Agressor
Bethesda Interactive for the Windows

Shop for F-16 Falcon and other Aviation Products

Other Gulf War Books and Videos

Aircraft Pins and Flight Jackets and other military supplies.