Lockheed Martin F-21 (Fighting Falcon)

4.5 Generation Multirole Fighter Aircraft

United States | 2025

"The Lockheed F-21 is an F-16 Fighting Falcon-based proposal aimed at a standing Indian Air Force requirement covering some 110 potential fighter aircraft."

Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 03/30/2021 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The F-21 is an advanced version of the F-16 "Fighting Falcon" multirole fighter being offered by Lockheed Martin to fulfill a standing Indian Air Force (IAF) requirement covering some 110 total fighters. The aircraft is a direct offshoot of the Fighting Falcon line but a considerable evolution of the family, incorporating all-modern qualities and enhanced performance and capabilities. The aircraft is being touted alongside a local-production initiative to have the fighters built in India (falling under the national battle cry of "In India, For India") with Lockheed Martin partnering with the local Indian concern of Tata Advanced Systems (TAS)

Lockheed had previously offered the IAF its F-16IN (Block 70) Fighting Falcon model - the F-21 replaces this bid. Key competitors in the 110-strong IAF fighter bid is the American Boeing F/A-18 "Super Hornet", the French Dassault "Rafale" (of which India has already contracted for in another requirement), the Euro-centric Eurofighter "Typhoon", the Swedish Saab JAS 39E/F "Gripen", the Russian Mikoyan MiG-35 "Fulcrum" (Indian already operates the older MiG-29), and the Russian Sukhoi Su-35 "Flanker" (Indian already operates the Su-30 mark). Certainly siding with an existing design (like those offered from Mikoyan and Sukhoi - under the United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) umbrella) would ease logistics for the service in the long-run and continue evolving the Indian-Russian military relationship - but all are capable 4.0th/4.5th Generation fighter mounts in their own right.

As proposed, the F-21 sports no fewer than three underwing hardpoints to a wing mainplane member with the two most internal pairing plumbed for jettisonable fuel tanks (increasing operational ranges). Wingtip missile hardpoints from the original F-16 are retained in the F-21's design and these further support the AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced, Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile). Another key addition is the "triple-launcher" shown equipped with three AMRAAMs each at the center underwing hardpoints - this translates to ten total Air-to-Air Missiles (AAMs) carried aloft at any one point: 8 x AIM-120 AMRAAMs and 2 xAIM-9 "Sidewinder" short-ranged AAM types. Under the fuselage are several reserved hardpoints points for various mission supporting pods used in targeting, search, tracking, and engagement actions.

Over the dorsal spine of the aircraft is an equipment fairing and to either side of the spine are conformal fuel tank fairings (another feature increasing the aircraft's operational range at the expense of more drag). The retractable fuel probe, a key requirement from the IAF, is set to the starboard side, emerging from the right-hand-side conformal fairing. As shown in Lockheed marketing videos, the F-21 would be able to deploy a decoy unit behind it increased survivability against inbound missile threats. The nose is set to house an Active, Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar fit common to most modern aircraft types today, giving superior search-and-track functionality from the cockpit and aiding in weapons management and control. More so, some of the technologies developed for the 5th Generation Lockheed F-22 "Raptor" and F-35 "Lightning II" programs of the United States Air Force are said to figure into making the F-21 an advanced, modern solution for the upgrading IAF - all this atop the proven, storied airframe that is the F-16 Fighting Falcon (originally a General Dynamics product of the 1970s).

Inside the aircraft, a large-area, full-color touchscreen display will dominate the instrument panel and other expected features, such as pressurization and a Zero-Zero ejection seat would figure into the design. The IAF would be seeking both single-seat and twin-seat aircraft types in the order.

What is retained from the original F-16 Fighting Falcon is the nose-mounted radar fit, wide-view canopy, single engine installation (limiting survivability and range but lowering complexity and cost), the oval-shaped underfuselage intake, and single-finned tail unit. Large ventral strakes seen under the tail section add stability and control, enhancing attack angles. For landing, a brake chute would be deployed to considerably retard the approaching aircraft's runway roll atop its tricycle undercarriage.

Like other aircraft for this IAF bid, the F-21 remains a potent candidate. The IAF is seeking to supplant an aging fleet of MiG-21 and MiG-27 fighters/strike fighters with a single foreign solution that can be built locally in budget. At least 85% of the complete fleet of new aircraft would have to be constructed on Indian soil.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Lockheed Martin F-21 4.5 Generation Multirole Fighter Aircraft.

ESTIMATED: 1 x General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan engine developing around 18,000lb thrust on dry and near 30,000lb of thrust with reheat.
Propulsion

1,317 mph
2,120 kph | 1,145 kts
Max Speed

50,033 ft
15,250 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling

2,622 miles
4,220 km | 2,279 nm
Operational Range

50,000 ft/min
15,240 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Lockheed Martin F-21 4.5 Generation Multirole Fighter Aircraft.

1 or 2
(MANNED)
Crew

49.4 ft
15.05 m
O/A Length

32.6 ft
(9.95 m)
O/A Width

16.0 ft
(4.88 m)
O/A Height

18,960 lb
(8,600 kg)
Empty Weight

42,329 lb
(19,200 kg)
MTOW

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Lockheed Martin F-21 (Fighting Falcon) 4.5 Generation Multirole Fighter Aircraft provided across 11 (including wingtips). hardpoints.

ASSUMED:
1 x 20mm M61A1 Vulcan Gatling-style internal cannon.

Support for all in-service Indian Air Force munitions including short-range and medium-range missiles, air-to-surface missiles, anti-ship missiles, conventional and precision-guided drop bombs, rocket pods and the like. Notable support for the American AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM).

Also support for jettisonable fuel tanks and various mission pods to enhance search, track, and attack capabilities.

X

Hardpoints Key:

Centerline

Wingroot(L)

Wingroot(R)

Wing

Wingtip

Internal

Not Used

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Lockheed Martin F-21 (Fighting Falcon) family line.

F-21 ("Fighter for the 21st Century") - Base Project Designation.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Lockheed Martin F-21 (Fighting Falcon). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 0 Units
Contractor(s): Lockheed Martin - USA