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The General-Dynamics F16 Falcon is an American single-engine, multi-role light fighter and stormtrooper. Work on the F-16 project began in 1971 at the company General Dynamics (which in 1993 was part of the giant Lockheed Martin), entering the competition for a light multirole fighter (LWF) for the US Air Force. The YF-16 prototype flew for the first time on February 2, 1974. An important breakthrough in technical terms was the use of an electronic fly-by-wire control system, which made it possible to reduce the wing and tail area and thus reduce of 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. The different versions of the F-16 are powered by three versions of the 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 design of the YF-16 proved to be so successful that it won not only the LWF competition in the USA (in competition with the Northrop YF-17 aircraft), but also won the multi-role fighter contract for the European NATO countries. His opponents were the Dassault Mirage F.1 and SAAB J-37 Viggen machines. Serial production of the F-16 began in 1975. European NATO countries also participated for which it was an injection of new aviation technologies. Final assembly took place in the USA, Belgium and the Netherlands. The first production F-16A Fighting Falcon was flown on August 7, 1978. It is an attack version of the F-16, intended primarily to engage ground targets. The F-16 also proved itself in combat, with a number 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 (two-seat). Based on these six models, numerous upgrades are created, most often associated with the replacement of avionics, labeled "Block". Since 2006, the F-16 is also in service with the Polish Air Force. The Polish Ministry of Defense decided that the F-16 would be the backbone of the modernized air force, rejecting offers from Dessault and SAAB, although in this case it was the Mirrage F2000 and JAS-39 Grippen fighters. Undoubtedly, the highest amount proposed by the American company as part of the so-called transaction compensation. Technical data: Maximum speed: 2,170 km/h, rate of climb: 254 m/s, maximum ceiling 15240 m, maximum range: 3890km, armament: fixed - one M61A-1 20 mm gun, suspended - up to 9275 kg payload.
