Air Power Series>1:72 die-cast display model>F-16>HA38014
Lockheed F-16AM "MIG-21 Killer" 92731, Pakistan Air Force, 2019
General Background
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the "Viper"; and will remain in USAF service until 2025.
The Aircraft
After much bickering between Pakistan and India, India decided it would send their aircraft to attack regions within Pakistan to prove their air superiority. On February 27, 2019 Pakistan initiated Operation Swift Retort and encountered Indian Air Force Aircraft. Over the Kashmir region the PAF F-16 92731 piloted by Wing Commander Noman Ali Khan encountered the IAF MiG-21 CU2328 piloted by Wing Commander Abhinandan Varthaman and fired an AIM-120 missile. Later the F-16 received a kill mark located on the side of the fuselage near the left nose cone. F-16 92731 was produced in August 1993.
Specifications :
| Role: | Multi-role fighter |
| Manufacturer : | General Dynamics Corp. / Lockheed Martin Corp |
| Initial Unit cost : | F-16C/D, $20 million plus |
| First Deployed : | January 1979 |
| (F-16A)Crew : | 1 x F-16C / 1 or 2 x F-16D |
| Power Plant : | F-16C/D |
| 1 x Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or | |
| 1 x General Electric F110-GE-100/129 | |
| Thrust : | F-16C/D / 27,000 lb (12,150 kg) |
| Length: | 49 ft, 5 in (14.8 m) |
| Wingspan | 32 ft 8 in (9.8 m) |
| Height: | 16 ft (4.8 m) |
| Speed: | 1,500 mph (Mach 2 @ altitude) |
| Ceiling: | Above 50,000 (15 km) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight: | 37,500 lb (16,875 kg) |
| Range: | Greater than 2,425 mi (2,100 nm / 3,900 km) |
| Combat Radius: | F-16C 851.6 mi (1,370 km / 740 nm) w/ 2 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 U.S. gal external tanks |
| 391.3 mi (630 km / 340 nm) w/ 4 x 2,000 lb bombs + 2 x AIM-9 + 340 U.S. gal external tanks | |
| 230.2 mi (370 km / 200 nm) + 2 hr. 10 min. patrol w/ 2 x AIM-7 + 2 x AIM-9 + 1,040 lb U.S. gal external tanks | |
| Armament: | 1 x M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds |
| 1 x M-61A1 20mm multi-barrel cannon with 500 rounds | |
| External stations can carry up to six air-to-air missiles | |
| Conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions | |
| Electronic countermeasure pods. |