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.
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.
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(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Interception
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓Intelligence-Surveillance-Reconnaissance (ISR), Scout
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.
✓Training (General)
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).
✓- Training (Advanced)
Dedicated advanced training platform for student pilots having graduated from basic flight training.
Length
49.4 ft (15.05 m)
Width/Span
32.6 ft (9.95 m)
Height
16.0 ft (4.88 m)
Empty Wgt
18,960 lb (8,600 kg)
MTOW
42,329 lb (19,200 kg)
Wgt Diff
+23,369 lb (+10,600 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Lockheed Martin F-21 production variant)
Installed:
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.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Lockheed Martin F-21 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
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.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 11 (including wingtips).
Mounting Points
-
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
-
HARDPOINT(S) KEY:
X
15
13
11
9
7
5
3
1
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
COLOR KEY:
Fuselage Centerline
Fuselage Port/Wingroot
Fuselage Starboard/Wingroot
Wing/Underwing
Wingtip Mount(s)
Internal Bay(s)
Not Used
Note: Diagram above does not take into account inline hardpoints (mounting positions seated one-behind-the-other).
F-21 ("Fighter for the 21st Century") - Base Project Designation.
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
76
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 1400mph
Lo: 700mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (1,317mph).
Graph average of 1,050 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
Lockheed Martin F-21 operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
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Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
Images Gallery
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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Image from official Lockheed Martin marketing materials.
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India (possible)
