Lockheed Martin F-16V (Viper)

Multirole 4th Generation Fighter

United States | 2017

"The Lockheed Martin F-16V Viper is an active upgrade or new-build offering of the classic F-16 Fighting Falcon line."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/17/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Official image from Lockheed Martin marketing materials.

The Lockheed F-16V "Viper" is the ultimate incarnation for the storied Fighting Falcon lightweight multirole fighter line. The aircraft was debuted at the 2012 Singapore Air Show by Lockheed Martin and promises a slew of improvements for current Fighting Falcon operators (via direct upgrade of existing, in-service airframes) as well as those nations seeking to upgrade from older 4th Generation fighter forms (the Soviet-era MiG-29 Fulcrum is a major target of such sales efforts). The "V" in the designation has earned the new mark the nickname of "Viper".

The F-16V took to the air for the first time on October 21st, 2015.

The aircraft is equipped with the AN/APG-83 Active, Electronically-Scanned Array (AESA) radar in the nose as well as an all-modern/all-digital mission computer integrated into a revised cockpit. Ground collision avoidance is through an automated system and the fighter carries a new Electronic Warfare (EW) suite as part of its advanced design. The overall form and function of this multirole aircraft remain intact with its single-seat, single-engine arrangement as well as excellent ordnance-carrying capabilities (primarily missiles and rockets with an internal cannon designed for close-in work).

To date (2019), Viper operators include Bahrain (purchased), Greece, Slovakia (committed), and Taiwan (upgrades and purchased). Bahrain has ordered sixteen new-build Vipers (Block 70/72). The Block 70/72 is a modern Fighting Falcon design, adding up to 50% life to the series. Hellenic Air Force upgrades involve a direct Lockheed partnership to cover several aircraft types and bringing the work to Greece itself. Taiwan fleet upgrades began in January of 2017 and now includes a request to purchase sixty-six additional Viper units.

The F-16V has also been rebranded as the "F-21" for possible sale to India to fulfill a standing requirement. This entry is detailed elsewhere on this site.

The original Fighting Falcon forms came online in 1978 and over 4,600 (over 3,000 in active service) have been built to date (2019), making it one of the true Cold War (1947-1991) success stories. Operators number over twenty-five and include the United States Air Force (USAF), Israel, and several European powers. The former General Dynamics product is now under the Lockheed Martin brand label. Lockheed intends to keep the F-16 family viable until 2070 with the various planned initiatives.

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January 2020 - Taiwan and the United States are moving ahead with a deal to cover procurement of the F-16V multirole fighter for the island nation. Up to sixty-six aircraft are to make up the deal. The sale was approved in August of 2019 and the Taiwanese budget was approved in November of 2019 to cover the purchase.

August 2020 - An F-16V has begun flight-testing the new Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System II (JHMCSII) system.

January 2021 - The first F-16V standard aircraft for the Hellenic Air Force has completed its first flight. The flight took place out of Tanagra Air Base outside of Athens on January 17th with the conversion work completed by Greece's own Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAB).

March 2021 - Taiwan has completed its upgrade program of F-16A/B fighters to the V-model standard. The fleet consists of 42 airframes brought up to the new mark.

June 2022 - Jordan has elected to purchase eight the F-16V fighters in Block 70 configuration.

Cockpit
While traditional jobs involve workstations, office desks, or cubicles, aircraft provide operators with their own unique, ever-changing view of the world below.

[ Click to Enlarge ]

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Lockheed Martin F-16V Multirole 4th Generation Fighter.

1 x General Electric GE F110-GE afterburning turbofan engine developing 32,500lb of thrust.
Propulsion

917 mph
1,475 kph | 796 kts
Max Speed

49,213 ft
15,000 m | 9 miles
Service Ceiling

2,619 miles
4,215 km | 2,276 nm
Operational Range

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

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Lockheed Martin F-16V Multirole 4th Generation Fighter.

1
(MANNED)
Crew

49.2 ft
15.00 m
O/A Length

31.0 ft
(9.45 m)
O/A Width

16.7 ft
(5.10 m)
O/A Height

22,046 lb
(10,000 kg)
Empty Weight

48,006 lb
(21,775 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Lockheed Martin F-16V (Viper) Multirole 4th Generation Fighter provided across 11 (including wingtip mounts). hardpoints.

STANDARD, FIXED:
1 x 20mm M61A1 Vulcan Gatling-style internal cannon.

OPTIONAL:
11 total external hardpoints (2 x Wingtip; 3 x Fuselage; 6 x Underwing) for the carrying of various ordnance types (wingtip mounts reserved for Sidewinder or AMRAAM air-to-air missiles). Up to 17,000lb.

Supported ordnance includes short-range and medium-range air-to-air missiles, laser-guided / precision-guided drop bombs, conventional drop bombs, and rocket pods.

X

Hardpoints Key:

Centerline

Wingroot(L)

Wingroot(R)

Wing

Wingtip

Internal

Not Used

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Lockheed Martin F-16V (Viper) family line.

F-16V ("Viper") - Base Series Designation.

F-21 - F-16V rebranding for Indian Air Force proposal.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Lockheed Martin F-16V (Viper). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 100 Units
Contractor(s): Lockheed Martin - USA / Hellenic Aerospace Industry - Greece

[ Bahrain; Greece; Jordan (announced); Slovakia; Taiwan ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 1000mph

Lo: 500mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (917mph).

Graph Average of 750 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

Production Comparison

100

36183

44000

Entry compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian) total production.

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Aviation Timeline

EarlyYrs

WWI

Interwar

WWII

ColdWar

Postwar

Modern

Future

♦

1 / 1

Image of the Lockheed Martin F-16V (Viper)

Official image from Lockheed Martin marketing materials.

Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Going Further...
The Lockheed Martin F-16V (Viper) Multirole 4th Generation Fighter appears in the following collections:

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