The F-16C/D is the current production
version of the Fighting Falcon, the C being the single-seat version and the D being the
two-seat version. It was introduced in 1984 and was intended to make the F-16 capable of
all-weather operations and compatible with Beyond Visible Range (BVR) missiles such as the
AIM-7 Sparrow and later the AIM-120 AMRAAM. This deficiency had been particularly obvious
in operations over Europe, where the weather is generally bad much of the time.
The improvements introduced by the
F-16C/D were originally known as the MSIP Stage II, or Block 25. This was redesignated
F-16C/D in 1981. So F-16C/Ds all begin with Block 25. The first F-16C was 83-1118, which
flew for the first time on June 15, 1984 under the controls of company test pilot Kevin
Dwyer. The first Block 25 F-16D (83-1174) was flown on September 14, 1984, piloted by John
Fergione and Jim Smolka. The new Fighting Falcon variant was introduced on the production
line in December of 1984.
Flight testing of the new F-16C revealed
problems, most of which were associated with software difficulties. Development lead times
which were once paced by hardware problems were now becoming paced by software bugs, and
there was a shortage of people which understood both computers and airplanes.
The F-16C/D has not been produced by the
four European NATO partners, but export versions of the F-16C/D built at Fort Worth have
been shipped to overseas customers such as Israel, Egypt, South Korea, Turkey, Greece, and
Bahrein. In addition, Korean and Turkish orders have involved some local assembly of the
F-16C/D.
Externally, the F-16C is almost identical
to the F-16A. The only significant external difference is the introduction on the F-16C of
an enlarged triangular base or "island" on the rear fuselage leading up to the
vertical fin, with a small blade antenna protruding upward from it. This extra space was
originally intended for the Airborne Self-Protection Jammer (ASPJ) that is used on Navy
aircraft. The USAFs ASPJ program became mired in controversy in 1989-90, and has now been
abandoned. The UHF radio blade antenna protudes at an angle of 35 degree sweepback on the
forward base of the vertical fin. The same antenna was internal on the F-16A/B and was
hidden underneath a dielectric panel.
Most of the differences between the
F-16A/B and F-16C/D versions are internal. The F-16C/D employs the Hughes AN/APG-68(V)
multi-mode radar with better range, sharper resolution, and expanded operating modes. The
AN/APG-68(V) is a considerable advancement over the APG-66 of the F-16A/B. The planar
array in the nose provides numerous air-to-air modes, including range-while-search, uplook
and velocity search, single target track, raid cluster resolution, and track-while-scan
for up to 10 targets. Beyond-visible-range capability has been added in the form of a
high-PRF track mode to provide illumination for guidance of the AIM-7 Sparrow semi-active
radar homing missile. For air-to-ground work, the modes that are available include
maritime, fixed and moving target, ground mapping, Doppler beam sharpening, ranging,
beacon, and target freeze. The beacon mode is used for navigation fixes and for bombing
offset. The maritime modes include a real beam mapping, sea search, fixed target track,
and ground moving target indication and track. There is also a freeze mode. The fixed
ground target modes include a real beam ground mapping mode, FTT mode, expanded display
mode, and Doppler beam sharpening mode. The moving ground target modes include real beam
ground mapping, GMTI or TMTT, expanded display, and freeze. The radar is capable of
handling the guidance of the AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile.
The pilot of the F-16C/D has a larger
HUD. The function keypad is located at the base of the HUD (it was located in a console to
the left in earlier F-16A/Bs). A data display with key information items is located beside
the HUD.
The Block 25 Fighting Falcons were
delivered with the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 engine, which had a series of teething
problems. These aircraft were later retrofitted with either the F100-PW-220 engine (a
"new-build" powerplant) or the F100-PW-220E (a rebuild of an existing -200
engine). These newer engines are equipped with a Digital Electronic Engine Control (DEEC),
which helps with stall-free performance and is more reliable.
The Block 25 Fighting Falcons employ the
ALR-69 radar warning reveiver and carry two ALE-40 chaff/flare dispensers.
Following initial deliveries to overseas
units, the 61st TFTS of the 56th TFW stationed at MacDill AFB in Florida became the first
continental US unit to receive the F-16C/D, getting its first planes in April of 1986 and
becoming operational in October of 1988. A total of 177 Block 25 F-16Cs and 25 Block 25
F-16Ds were built.
Serials of Block 25 F-16C/D:
83-1125/1140 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25A Fighting Falcon
83-1141/1165 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25B Fighting Falcon
83-1174/1177 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25 Fighting Falcon
83-1178/1180 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25A Fighting Falcon
83-1181/1185 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25B Fighting Falcon
84-1212/1246 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25C Fighting Falcon
84-1247/1286 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25D Fighting Falcon
84-1287/1318 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25E Fighting Falcon
84-1319/1323 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25C Fighting Falcon
84-1324/1327 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25D Fighting Falcon
84-1328/1331 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25E Fighting Falcon
84-1374/1388 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25E Fighting Falcon
84-1389/1395 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
84-1396/1397 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1399 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1401 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1403/1407 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1409 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1411 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1413 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1415/1421 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1423 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1425 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1427 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1429/1431 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1433 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1435 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1437 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1439 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1441 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1443 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1445 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1447 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1452 General Dynamics F-16C Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1506/1508 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1510 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1512 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25F Fighting Falcon
85-1514/1516 General Dynamics F-16D Block 25F Fighting Falcon
This list is almost certainly incomplete
and I would (as always) appreciate hearing from anyone who has additions or corrections.
Specification of Lockheed/General
Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon:
Engine: One Pratt & Whitney
F100-PW-220 turbofan, 23,770 lb.s.t. with afterburning or one General Electric F110-GE-100
turbofan, 28,984 lb.s.t with afterburning. Performance (at 27,245 pounds with F100
engine): Maximum short-endurance speed: Mach 2.02 (1333 mph) at 40,000 feet. Maximum
sustained speed Mach 1.89 (1247 mph) at 40,000 feet. Tactical radius (hi-lo-hi
interdiction on internal fuel with six 500-lb bombs) 360 miles. Maximum ferry range 2450
miles with maximum external fuel. Dimensions: wingspan 31 feet 0 inches, length 49 fee5 4
inches, height 16 feet 8 1/2 inches, wing area 300 square feet. Weights: 18,238 pounds
empty, 26,463 pounds normal loaded (air-to-air mission), 42,300 pounds maximum takeoff.
Armament: One 20-mm M61A1 rotary cannon and up to 12,430 pounds of ordnance or fuel
distibuted between one fuselage centerline and six underwing stations, plus wingtip
stations. An AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile is normally carried on each wingtip
station.
Sources:
- Combat Aircraft F-16, Doug Richardson,
Crescent, 1992.
- General Dynamics Aircraft and their
Predecessors, John Wegg, Naval Institute Press, 1990.
- The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and
Peter Bowers, Orion, 1987.
- United States Military Aircraft Since
1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.
- F-16 Fighting Falcon--A Major Review of
the West's Universal Warplane, Robert F. Dorr, World Airpower Journal, Spring 1991.
- The World's Great Interceptor Aircraft,
Gallery, 1989.
- Modern Military Aircraft--F-16 Viper, Lou
Drendel, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1992.
- Lockheed F-16 Variants, Part 1, World
Airpower Journal, Volume 21, Summer 1995.
- Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 40 and Beyond,
Bill Sweetman, World AirPower Journal, Vol 36, Spring 1999
