The General Dynamics F16 Falcon is an American single-engine multi-role light fighter and attack aircraft. Work on the F-16 project began in 1971 at General Dynamics (which in 1993 was part of the giant Lockheed Martin), taking part in the competition for a light multi-role fighter (LWF) for the United States Air Force. The YF-16 prototype first flew on February 2, 1974. A breakthrough in technical terms was the use of a computerized electric fly-by-wire control system, which allowed to reduce the area of the wings and tail, and therefore reduce the weight of the entire aircraft. The F-16 was the first fighter in the world to use such a system. The first versions were largely made of aluminum alloys (about 83% of the total structure), but over time they gave way to composites. Different versions of the F-16 are equipped with three versions of engines: Pratt-Whitney F-100-PW-200, General Electric F110-GE100 and Pratt-Whitney F-100-PW-2020. The "brain" of the guidance system was the APG-66 radar, later replaced by the APG-68 (V) radar. It is worth noting that the YF-16 design was so successful that it not only won the LWF competition in the USA (in competition with the Northrop YF-17 aircraft), but also won the century-old contract for a multi-role fighter for European NATO countries. Its rivals were the Dassault Mirage F.1 and the SAAB J-37 Viggen. Serial production of the F-16 began in 1975. It was also attended by European NATO countries, for whom it was the introduction of new aviation technologies. Final assembly was carried out in the USA, Belgium and the Netherlands. The first production F-16A Fighting Falcon took to the air on August 7, 1978. This is an attack version of the F-16, designed primarily for fighting ground targets. The F-16 also proved itself in combat, winning a series of aerial victories in the Lebanon War (1982) and during Operation Desert Storm (1991). By the end of the 20th century, more than 4,000 of these successful aircraft had been produced. There were six basic versions of the F-16, designated A, C, E (single-seat) and B, D, F (double-seat). Numerous upgrades are created on the basis of these six models, most often associated with the replacement of avionics, designated "Block". Since 2006, the F-16 has also served in the Polish Air Force. The Polish Ministry of Defense has decided that the F-16 will become the basis of the modernized Air Force, rejecting the offers from Dessault and SAAB, although in this case it was the Mirage F2000 and JAS-39 Grippen fighters. Undoubtedly, this is the highest amount offered by an American company under the so-called offset agreement. Technical data: Maximum speed: 2170 km/h, rate of climb: 254 m/s, maximum ceiling 15240 m, maximum flight range: 3890 km, armament: stationary - one 20-mm six-barreled cannon M61A-1, suspended - up to 9275 kg of cargo.
