page_title: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon operational history
section_title: 2009–present
hierarchical_section_title: General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon operational history / Israel / 2009–present
caption_attribution_description: English: The "Adir" jets first flight in Israel. Pictured: "Adir" jet and F-16I "Sufa". Photo by: Maj. Ofer עברית: הטיסה הראשונה של מטוסי ה"אדיר" בשמי ישראל. בתמונה: מטוס ה"אדיר" ומטוס ה"סופה". צילום: רס"ן עופר
context_page_description: The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon has served the United States and the air arms of 25 other nations. Over 4,400 F-16s have been sold.
context_section_description: The IAF lost one F-16I during a training mission in November 2010 with the loss of its crew.
  On 16 December 2010, an Israeli F-16I shot down an unmanned "balloon" that had violated restricted airspace over Israel's Negev Nuclear Research Centre. It is widely believed that this center is where Israel's arsenal of nuclear weapons is produced.
  On 6 October 2012, an Israeli F-16I, serial 844, shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle over southern Israel using two Python-5 missiles, the first one missing the target.
  On 25 April 2013, an Israeli F-16C shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from Lebanon over the sea off Haifa, in northern Israel using a Python-5 missile.
  In September 2016 and February 2017 IAF F-16 fighters shot down Hamas drones (UAVs) near the Gaza Strip.
  During the 2010s Israeli upgraded all of its Barak 1 (F-16C/D) and Barak 2 (F-15CG/DG) fleet to "Barak 2020" configuration, an MLU which gives them Sufa-grade avionics. In 2015 the Netz fighters (F-16A/B) were retired from service, with F-16 Netz 107 being put on display in the Israeli Air Force Museum.
  On 10 February 2018, an Israeli Air Force F-16I was shot down and crashed in northern Israel when it was hit by a Syrian Air Defense Force S-200 surface-to-air missile. Both pilots ejected and safely landed in Israeli territory. The F-16I was part of a bombing mission against Syrian and Iranian targets around Damascus after an Iranian drone reportedly entered Israeli air space and was shot down.
caption: IAF F-16I Sufa escorting a new F-35I Adir stealth multi-role fighter.
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