General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon operational history

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.^[1]

United States

The F-16 is in service with US Air Force active, reserve, and Air National Guard units, and is used by the USAF aerial demonstration team, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, and as an adversary/aggressor aircraft by the United States Navy.^[2]

Operation Desert Storm (1991)

In Operation Desert Storm of 1991, 249 USAF F-16s flew 13,340 sorties in strikes against Iraq, the most of any Coalition aircraft. Falcons often had AGM-65s (up to six), or two Mk84 2,000 lb bombs (middle underwing pylons), two 1,400 lt fuel tanks, two AIM-9 and an underbelly ECM pod, such as the AN/ALQ-131. F-16Ds from the 388th Tactical Fighter Wing at Hill AFB were used as spotter aircraft to search and find Iraqi SAMs and Republican Guard troops. They were armed with up to six Mk82s, Cluster Bombs, and LGBs. These aircraft were also equipped with LANTIRN and binoculars. Three aircraft were lost to confirmed enemy action: two to enemy radar guided SA-6 and SA-3 surface-to-air missiles (SAMs)^[3][4] and one to a shoulder-launched SA-16 missile.^[5] Other F-16s were damaged in accidents and by hostile ground fire but were able to return to base and be repaired.^[6][7] In all, seven F-16 were lost during Desert Storm combat operations between January 16 and February 28.^[8][9][10]

F-16s formed the basis of the largest strike package (72 aircraft) flown during the war – "Package Q", a daylight raid against targets in downtown Baghdad on 19 January. It was during the "Package Q" mission that two F-16s, from 614th TFS 'Lucky Devils', part of the 401st TFW (P), flying from Doha, Qatar were lost to SAMs with their pilots (Capt Mike "Cujo" Roberts and Maj 'Tico' Tice downed, respectively, by a SA-2 and SA-3) becoming POWs.^[11] This mission also marked the largest single operational F-16 strike package flown to date.^[12]

F-16s were used also as Wild Weasel shooters, with AGM-88 HARM missiles, together with older F-4Gs (480th TFS, 52nd Wing).^[13] There were only 13 F-16s with HARMs, all based at Incirlik Air Base, together with 12 F-4Gs. Phantoms had the powerful AN/APR-47 and with these systems, they did the more difficult tasks (attacking the mobile radar sites); F-16s were only recently fitted with HARMs, and the bulk of USAF SEAD was still the F-4G (another 48 were at Sheik Isa, Bahrain). F-16s flew escort/Wild Weasel missions escorting them and striking pre-planned targets. The 138th Fighter Squadron (174th TFW, New York ANG) used 24 F/A-16s equipped with a 30 mm gunpod, the GPU-5/A 'Pave Claw', a four-barreled derivative of the A-10 Thunderbolt's GAU-8 Avenger, but this proved a failure owing to excess vibration and inadequate gunsights.^[14][15]

Interwar Air Operations over Iraq (1991–2003)

From the end of Desert Storm until the invasion of Iraq in 2003, USAF F-16s patrolled the US/UK imposed no-fly zones in Iraq. Two air-to-air victories were scored by USAF F-16s in Operation Southern Watch.^[16] On 27 December 1992, a USAF F-16D shot down an Iraqi MiG-25 in the airspace over southern Iraq with an AIM-120 AMRAAM; this was the first USAF F-16 kill since the F-16 was introduced; and was also the first AMRAAM kill.^[17] On 17 January 1993, a USAF F-16C destroyed an Iraqi MiG-23 with an AMRAAM missile for the second USAF F-16 victory.^[18]

F-16s returned to Iraq in December 1998 as part of the Operation Desert Fox bombing campaign to "degrade" Iraq's ability to manufacture and use weapons of mass destruction.^[19]

Balkans (1994–1995 and 1999)

F-16s were also employed by NATO during Bosnian peacekeeping operations in 1994–95 in ground-attack missions and enforcing the no-fly-zone over Bosnia (Operation Deny Flight). The first incident took place on 28 February 1994, 4 J-21 and 2 IJ-21 Jastrebs and 2 J-22 Oraos had violated the no-fly-zone to conduct a bombing run on Novi Travnik. The pilots of the 2 J-22s spotted the F-16s above them and after their attack, they left the area in low-level flight towards Croatia, where the U.S. jets could not follow. Meanwhile, the rest of the group was engaged and attacked, first by two USAF F-16Cs, which scored three kills. The remaining J-21 was taken out by a different pair of USAF F-16Cs. Of the six Yugoslavian jets engaged, four were shot down (one by AMRAAM and the others by Sidewinders).^[20][21] On 2 June 1995, one F-16C was shot down by a Serb 2K12 Kub SAM (NATO reporting name: SA-6 "Gainful") while on patrol over Bosnia. Its pilot, Scott O'Grady, ejected and was later rescued by USMC CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter on 8 June.^[22]

NATO F-16s also participated in air strikes against Serbian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina during Operation Deliberate Force in August–September 1995, and again in Operation Allied Force over the entirety of Yugoslavia from March–June 1999.^[23]

On 2 May 1999, a USAF F-16CG was shot down over Serbia. It was downed by an S-125 Neva SAM (NATO: SA-3) near Nakucani. Its pilot; Lt. Col David Goldfein, 555th Fighter Squadron commander, managed to eject and was later rescued by a combat search-and-rescue (CSAR) mission.^[24][25] The remains of this aircraft are on display in the Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum, Belgrade International Airport.

On 4 May 1999, a lone Yugoslav Mig-29 flown by Col. Milenko Pavlović attempted to intercept a large NATO formation that was returning to base having just bombed Valjevo (the pilot's home town) It was engaged by a pair of USAF F-16CJs from the 78th Fighter Squadron^[26] and shot down with AIM-120,^[27] killing the pilot with the falling wreckage also being hit by a Strela 2M fired by the Yugoslav army in error.

Operations in Afghanistan (2001–present)

F-16s have been used by the United States in Afghanistan since 2001. One USAF F-16 fighter was lost during the operations in Afghanistan: on 3 April 2013 a USAF F-16 crashed near Bagram Airfield in eastern Afghanistan's Parwan province killing its pilot.^[28] In 2002, a tri-national detachment known as the European Participating Air Forces (Danish, Dutch and Norwegian) of 18 F-16s in the ground attack role deployed to Manas Air Base in Kyrgyzstan to support Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. Manas Air Base was returned to Kyrgyzstan control in 2014.

Invasion of Iraq and post-war operations (2003–2011)

US F-16s participated in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, and the only loss suffered over Iraq during this phase was an F-16CG of the 388th Fighter Wing’s 421st Fighter Squadron that crashed near Baghdad on 12 June 2003 when it ran out of fuel.^[29]

A US Army MIM-104 Patriot SAM fire-control radar was damaged on 25 March 2003 following a hit by an AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missile fired from an USAF F-16C on a patrol over southern Iraq, when the radar established a lock-on onto the fighter and the F-16 RWR classified it as a SA-2 radar.^[30] On 7 June 2006, two USAF F-16s dropped two 500 lb (230 kg) guided bombs (one GBU-12 Paveway LGB and one GBU-38 GPS-guided "smart" bomb) destroying an al-Qaeda safehouse, killing Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi, the leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.^[31] On November 27, 2006 one F-16 was lost near Falluja during a close air support strafing run when the pilot remained focused on the target instead of pulling up.^[32] On 15 June 2007, a F-16C crashed when the pilot lost spatial orientation during a night close air support mission. The pilot was killed in the crash. On 15 July 2007, another F-16C crashed and burned out during take off when a tire blew. The pilot ejected safely.^[33]

On 25 February 2009, a USAF F-16 shot down an Iranian Ababil-3 UAV after it entered in Iraqi airspace.^[34]

In September 2010, USAF F-16s dropped two bombs providing close air support for an Iraqi Army unit that was overwhelmed by armed insurgents. This was the first air raid in Iraq since July 2009.^[35]

Libya 2011

USAF F-16s participated in the enforcement of no-fly zone over Libya as part of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Israel

Bekaa Valley and Osiraq raid (1981)

The F-16’s first air-to-air combat success was achieved by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) over the Bekaa Valley on 28 April 1981, against a Syrian Mi-8 helicopter, which was downed with cannon fire following an unsuccessful attempt with an AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missile (AAM).^[37] Several months later, on 14 July 1981, the IAF achieved the first F-16 "kill" of another fighter with a successful AAM shoot-down of a Syrian MiG-21.^[38]

On 7 June 1981, eight Israeli F-16s, escorted by F-15s, executed Operation Opera, their first employment in a significant air-to-ground operation. This raid severely damaged Osirak, an Iraqi nuclear reactor under construction near Baghdad, to prevent the regime of Saddam Hussein from using the reactor for the creation of nuclear weapons.^[39]

Operation Peace for Galilee (1982)

The following year, during Operation Peace for Galilee (Lebanon War) Israeli F-16s engaged Syrian aircraft in one of the largest air battles involving jet aircraft, which began on 9 June and continued for two more days (Operation Mole Cricket 19). At the end of the conflict, the Israeli Air Force credited their F-16s with 44 air-to-air kills, mostly of MiG-21s and MiG-23s, while suffering no air-to-air losses of their own.^[37][40] F-16s were also used in their ground-attack role for strikes against targets in Lebanon.

Soviet/Russian sources state the Syrians lost six MiG-23MFs, four MiG-23MSs and fourteen MiG-23BNs in the Bekaa Valley, Syrian claim to have shot down at least five F-16s, two F-4Es, and a BQM-34 unmanned reconnaissance plane with MiG-23s.^[41]

Second Lebanon War (2006)

Israeli F-16s, the bomber workhorse of the Israel Defense Forces, participated in the 2006 Lebanon War. The only reported F-16 loss was an IDF F-16I that crashed on 19 July when one of its tires burst as it took off for Lebanon from an air base in the Negev. The pilots ejected safely and there were no casualties on the ground.^[42] Israeli F-16's shot down three Hezbollah-operated Ababil UAVs during the war.^[43]

Gaza War (2008–2009)

Israeli Defence Force F-16s were used in attacks in the Gaza strip in December 2008. The attacks hit at least 100 security compounds and rocket-launching bases and killed at least 225 people, including civilians and 140 members of Hamas security forces.^[44] No F-16s were lost.

2009-Present

IAF lost one F-16I during training mission in November 2010 with the loss of crew.^[45]

An IAF F-16I shot down an unmanned "balloon" that had violated restricted airspace over Israel's Negev Nuclear Research Centre on December 16, 2010. It is widely believed that this center is where Israel's arsenal of nuclear weapons is produced.^[46]

On 25 April 2013, an Israeli F-16 shot down an unmamned aerial vehicle from Lebanon over the sea off Haifa, in northern Israel using an air-to-air missile.

Egypt

On 16 February 2015, Egyptian F-16s performed air strikes on jihadi weapons caches and training camps in Libya in revenge of the murder of 21 workers by masked militants affiliated with the Islamic State (ISIS). The air strikes killed 64 ISIS fighters, including three leaders in Derna and Sirte on the coast.^[47]

The Netherlands

Yugoslavia (1994-1995, 1999)

F-16s were employed by NATO during Bosnian peacekeeping operations in 1994-95 in ground-attack missions and enforcing the no-fly-zone over Bosnia (Operation Deny Flight).

NATO F-16s also participated in air strikes against Serbian forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina during Operation Deliberate Force in August–September 1995, and again in Operation Allied Force over Yugoslavia from March–June 1999. During Allied Force, Dutch F-16 J-063 flown by Major Peter Tankink also claimed one Yugoslavian MiG-29, with an AMRAAM, flown by Lt. Colonel Milutinovic. He ejected safely.^[48][49] This marked the first air-to-air kill made by a Dutch fighter since WW2.^[50]

Operations in Afghanistan (2001–present)

Since April 2005, eight Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s, joined by four Royal Norwegian Air Force F-16s in February 2006, have been supporting International Security Assistance Force ground troops the southern provinces of Afghanistan. The detachment is known as the 1st Netherlands-Norwegian European Participating Forces Expeditionary Air Wing (1 NLD/NOR EEAW).^[51] On 31 August 2006, a Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16AM crashed in Ghazni province and the pilot, Capt. Michael Donkervoort, was killed.^[52] No cause was determined, but the investigation referenced the fact that a camel spider and other creatures had recently been found in the cockpits of Dutch aircraft in Afghanistan.^[53][54]

Libya 2011

Six Dutch F-16s operating from Italian base in the framework of Operation Odyssey Dawn.

Iraq 2014-2015

Six F-16's and Two reserve from the RNLAF are participating in the allied bombing actions against IS in Iraq, but do not participate in raids in Syria.^[55]

The Netherlands

Multiple times a year Dutch f-16's tasked with the defence of Dutch airspace as well as international airspace under Dutch protection intercept Russian T-95 Bear bombers. They will be intercepted and escorted until they are out of Dutch controlled airspace.^[56][57]

Belgium

Libya 2011

Six Belgian F-16 participated in missions in Libya in order to enforce the no fly-zone.

Denmark

Kosovo (1999-2000)

Six Danish F16s, later extended to nine, flew air defence and escort missions over Kosovo along with the Norwegian Air Force F16s. During the final phases of the campaign, the fighters also took part in several offensive missions targeting Yugoslav radar installations, fuel depots and command centers.^[58]

Afghanistan (2001–2003)

Six Danish F16s flew 743 missions over Afghanistan from Manas Air Base in Kirgistan during operation Enduring Freedom, as part of the European Participating Air Forces group along with Norway and the Netherlands, the missions included several weapon deliveries against various Taleban and Al Qaeda targets.^[58]

Libya 2011

Six Danish F-16 fighters performed high-risk missions over Libya in order to enforce the no-fly zone.

Norway

Libya 2011

Six Norwegian F-16 fighters participated in missions over Libya in order to enforce the no-fly zone. During these missions, the Norwegian F-16's dropped some 600 bombs on targets in Libya, including the residence of Gadaffi.^[59]

Pakistan

Incidents during the Soviet-Afghan War (1986–1988)

During the Soviet-Afghan war, between May 1986 and January 1989, Pakistan Air Force F-16s shot down at least 10 intruders from Afghanistan. Four of the kills were Afghan Su-22s bombers, three were Afghan transports (two An-26s and one An-24), and one was a Soviet Su-25 bomber. Most of these kills were achieved using the AIM-9 Sidewinder, but a Su-22 was destroyed by cannon fire and the one An-24 crash landed after being forced to land upon interception. Afghanistan claimed to have shot down one Pakistani F-16A during an encounter on 29 April 1987; the pilot ejected safely and landed in Pakistani territory. Pakistani authorities admitted to having lost a fighter jet to enemy fighters, but suggested that it may have been either an F-16 or an F-6 and insisted it was attacked over Pakistani territory.^[60] Subsequently, Pakistani officials confirmed that the loss was an F-16, but asserted it was accidentally shot down in a friendly fire incident during a dogfight with enemy aircraft over Pakistani territory. According to this claim, Flight Lieutenant Shahid Sikandar Khan’s F-16 was hit by an AIM-9 missile fired by another F-16 piloted by Squadron Leader Amjad Javed.^[61]

Kargil War (1999)

Although F-16As of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) did not see combat in the 1999 Kargil War, they were initially employed in patrolling the border to ensure Indian Air Force (IAF) fighters did not cross the line of control. Later in the war, lack of spare parts due to sanctions imposed on Pakistan forced the PAF to withdraw its F-16 fleet from regular patrol duties. The PAF's main opposition was the MiG-29, used by the IAF to provide fighter escort for Mirage 2000s which were attacking enemy targets with precision guided munitions. According to Indian sources, IAF MiG-29s of 47 (Black Archers) Squadron tracked two PAF F-16As close to Indian air space with their radars, The MiG-29's with long range BVR's where able to Lock the Pakistani F-16's while the Pakistani F-16s lacked BVR Capability. However the Pakistani F-16's decided not to attack as they were ordered because no official declaration of war had been issued.^[62] Pakistani sources state that the number of border violations by Indian aircraft dropped noticeably when F-16s were on patrol and that there were several cases of PAF F-16s and IAF Mirage 2000s tracking each other with their radars, but again no combat took place.^[63]

Operations in North-West Pakistan (May 2009–present)

The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has been using their F-16A fleet to attack militant positions and support the Pakistan Army's operations in North-West Pakistan against the Taliban insurgency. Since May 2009, PAF F-16s have used 500 lb and 2,000 lb unguided and laser-guided bombs to attack caves, tunnels, training camps, ammunition dumps and hide-outs used by the militants. Over 100 combat missions have been flown in South Waziristan and over 300 in the Swat Valley as of 29 July 2009. Prior to the operations in the Swat Valley, approximately 10 of the PAF's F-16s were fitted with high-resolution infra-red sensors for reconnaissance purposes, supplied by the United States, to provide the Pakistani military with detailed imagery of the area.^[64]

Lockheed Martin had indicated back in May 2007 that it would be supplying Pakistan with 18 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP) with deliveries starting in 2008.^[65]

Turkey

The Turkish Air Force acquired its first F-16s in 1987. Turkish Air Force F-16 units participated in the Bosnia Herzegovina and Kosovo by deploying one of its squadrons to Ghedi Air Base, Italy from 1993 and to Aviano Air Base from May 2000 in support of United Nations resolutions. The units completed 35,647 flight hours and 10,626 sorties without incident.^[66] Turkish F-16s also participated in the 2006 Baltic Aviation Police Mission in 2006.

On 8 October 1996, during an air-to-air confrontation over the Aegean Sea in the Athens FIR, a Greek Mirage 2000 fired an R550 Magic missile and shot down a Turkish F-16D. The Greek government claimed that the Turkish aircraft had violated Greek airspace, however, the Turkish government claimed that it had been on a training mission north of the Greek island of Samos, close to the Turkish mainland. The Turkish pilot died, while the co-pilot ejected and was rescued by Greek forces.^[67][68] Although the Turkish government has admitted the loss, the Greek government officially denies that the shootdown occurred.^[69] The loss was confirmed in 2012, after the downing of a RF-4E on the Syrian Coast. In response to a parliamentary question, Turkish Defence Minister İsmet Yılmaz stated that Turkish F-16D Block40 (s/n 91-0023) of 192 Filo was shot down by a Greek Mirage 2000 with a R.550 Magic II missile on 8 October 1996 after violating Greek airspace near Chios island.^[70]

Turkey's F-16s were extensively used in the nation's ongoing conflict with Kurdish rebels in Southeastern Turkey and Northern Iraq. Most notably during winter bombing campaign of 2008 Turkish incursion into northern Iraq where Turkey launched its first cross-border raid on 16 December 2007, involving 50 fighters before Operation Sun. This was the first time a night-bombing operation on a massive scale also the largest operation conducted by Turkish Air Force.^[71]

On 23 May 2006, two Greek F-16 Block 52+ jets were scrambled to intercept a Turkish RF-4 reconnaissance aircraft and its two F-16 escorts off the coast of the Greek island of Karpathos, within the Athens FIR. A mock dogfight ensued between the two sides' F-16s, which ended in a midair collision between a Turkish F-16 and a Greek F-16. The Turkish pilot ejected safely after his jet was destroyed, but the Greek pilot died when his canopy and cockpit were destroyed during the collision.^[72]

196 F-16C and 44 F-16D fighters were in service with the Turkish Air Force as of January 2012.^[73]

During the Syrian Civil War, Turkish F-16s were tasked with airspace protection on the Syrian border. After the RF-4 downing in June 2012 Turkey changed its rules of engagements against Syrian aircraft, resulting in scrambles and downings of Syrian combat aircraft.^[74] On 16 September 2013, a Turkish Air Force F-16 shot down a Syrian Mi-17 helicopter that had violated Turkish airspace over Hatay province, with a missile.^[75][76] On 23 March 2014, two TuAF F-16s from Diyarbakır intercepted a pair of Syrian MiG-23s that had strayed 2 km into Turkish airspace while operating against rebel positions. After the Syrians failed to respond air defense warnings, one of the Vipers downed one of the MiGs with an Sidewinder missile near the border towns of Kasab and Yayladağı. The Syrian pilot ejected and was rescued.^{[77][78][79][80][81]}

Venezuela

Venezuelan coup attempt (1992)

On 27 November 1992, two Venezuelan F-16s took part in the November Venezuelan Coup Attempt on the side of the government over the city of Barquisimeto and its Military Air Base. In particular, the two F-16As strafed targets on the ground and shot down two OV-10 Broncos with AIM-9Ps and one AT-27 Tucano with cannon fire as these rebel-flown aircraft attacked loyalist army positions. To avoid hitting civilian targets, the two F-16s flew in the outer perimeter of the city, while one rebel OV-10 Bronco tried to engage combat.^[82]

Anti drug operations

On 29 January 2015, a US registered Bombardier CL601 was chased and shot down off Boca Druif, Aruba by Venezuelan Air Force F-16s after failing to respond. Three bodies and 400 packets of drugs, mainly cocaine, were found.^[83]

United Arab Emirates

Libya 2011

F-16s from Emirates participated in the enforcement of no-fly zone over Libya.

Syria (2014 - present)

Starting on 23 September 2014, Emirati F-16s joined the American-led intervention in Syria, part of Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. The Emirates restricted their operations to the Syrian theater only. At the end of December 2014, the Emirates halted air strikes because of inadequate plans for the rescue of downed pilots after the downing of Jordanian pilot Muath al-Kasasbeh.^[84]

Bahrain

Syria (2014 - present)

Starting on 23 September 2014, Bahrain air force F-16s joined the American-led intervention in Syria, part of Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Bahrain strikes are limited to the Syrian theater.^[85]

Morocco

Syria (2014 - present)

Starting on 10 December 2014, Moroccan air force F-16s joined the American-led intervention in Syria and Iraq, part of Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Morocco strikes both in Syria and Iraq.^[86][87]

Jordan

Syria (2014 - present)

Starting on 23 September 2014, Jordanian air force F-16s joined the American-led intervention in Syria, part of Operation Inherent Resolve against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Jordan restricted its operations to the Syrian theater only.

On 24 December 2014, a RJAF F-16 crashed near Raqqa, Syria, and its pilot, Flight Lieutenant Muath al-Kasasbeh, was captured by Islamic State militants.^[88] Initially reported as shot down by enemy fire, the ISIL reported it downed the F-16 with a MANPADS while it was flying at low altitude. Later, the US CENTCOM rejected the claim, ruling out hostile fire as the cause of the crash, without further details.^[89]

References