page_title: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
section_title: Operators
hierarchical_section_title: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon / Operators
caption_attribution_description: English: Map with F-16 operators in blue and former operators in red
context_page_description: The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a single-engine supersonic multirole fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,600 aircraft have been built since production was approved in 1976. Although no longer being purchased by the U.S. Air Force, improved versions are being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.
  The Fighting Falcon's key features include a frameless bubble canopy for better visibility, side-mounted control stick to ease control while maneuvering, an ejection seat reclined 30 degrees from vertical to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot, and the first use of a relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system which helps to make it an agile aircraft. The F-16 has an internal M61 Vulcan cannon and 11 locations for mounting weapons and other mission equipment.
context_section_description: By July 2010 there had been 4,500 F-16s delivered.
   Bahrain
   Belgium
   Chile
   Denmark
   Egypt
   Greece
   Israel
   Indonesia
   Iraq
   Jordan
   Morocco
   Netherlands
   Norway
   Oman
   Pakistan
   Poland
   Portugal
   Romania
   Singapore
   South Korea
   Thailand
   Turkey
   Taiwan (Republic of China)
   United Arab Emirates
   United States
   Venezuela
caption: Map with F-16 operators in blue with former operators in red
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