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Lockheed Martin F-16V Viper
Fighter jet From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Lockheed Martin F-16V Viper is the most advanced variant of the longstanding F-16 Fighting Falcon platform, featuring APG-83 AESA radar, upgraded avionics with a modern mission computer, enhanced cockpit displays, and electronic warfare systems such as Viper Shield, delivering near-fifth-generation capabilities while extending service life and interoperability with stealth platforms.[1][2][3] Initially introduced to support export customers like Taiwan and Greece through both new production and retrofit options, the Viper configuration continues to be fielded and modernized by Lockheed Martin and international partners.[4][5]
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Development
The F-16V (Block 70/72) began as Lockheed Martin’s comprehensive “Viper” upgrade announced at the Singapore Airshow on February 15, 2012, adding the AN/APG-83 SABR AESA radar, a new mission computer/architecture, and cockpit enhancements.[6] F-16V achieved its maiden flight with the APG-83 on October 16, 2015—the first time an F-16 flew with this AESA—validating the configuration that would underpin both new-build Block 70/72 jets and global retrofit programs.[7]
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Variants
Available as single-seat or a twin-seat configuration.
- F-16V Block 70
- powered by General Electric F110-GE-129 engine
- F-16V Block 72
- powered by Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine
Operators
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In September 2017, the U.S. Department of State approved a Foreign Military Sale to Bahrain for 19 new-build F-16V and upgrade its 20 existing F-16C/D Block 40 to F-16V standard.
In June 2018, Bahrain finalized its order for 16 new-build F-16V.[8] On 8 March 2024, Bahrain received its first batch of F-16V Block 70.[9]
In October 2017, the U.S. approved the sale of 123 upgrade kits to Greece to bring their existing F-16C and D fighters up to the new F-16 Block 72 standard.[10] On 28 April 2018, Greece decided to upgrade 84 aircraft.[11] On 12 September 2022, Greece received its first upgraded F-16V Block 72 Viper jets.[12][13] Hellenic Air Force F-16V jets participated in Ramstein Flag 2025.[14]
South Korea also plans to upgrade 134 of its F-16C/D fleet to F-16V standard by November 2025.[15]
In April 2018, the U.s. Department of State approved a Foreign Military Sale to Slovakia for 14 new F-16Vs, pending approval from U.S. Congress.[16] The Defence Ministry of Slovakia announced on 11 July 2018 that it intends to purchase 14 F-16 Block 70 aircraft from Lockheed Martin to replace its aging fleet of Mikoyan MiG-29s.[17] The package, which includes armament and training, is worth €1.58 billion ($1.8 billion), and is Slovakia's largest military purchase in modern history. Defence Minister Peter Gajdoš signed the contract with Lockheed Martin representative Ana Wugofski in a press conference at the capital Bratislava on 12 December 2018.[18] after the government approved the purchase.[19][20][21][22]
The first completed jet was unveiled by the manufacturer on 7 September 2023,[23] and first two aircraft were delivered to Slovakia on 22 July 2024.[24][25]
In December 2018, Bulgaria chose sixteen F-16 Block 70s as replacements for MiG-29s.[26] On 10 July 2019, Bulgaria approved the purchase of eight F-16 Block 70/72 for $1.25 billion (~$1.51 billion in 2024).[27] On 4 November 2022, the Bulgarian parliament approved the purchase of 8 more F-16V for $1.3 billion.[28] On 13 April 2025, Bulgaria received its first F-16 Block 70 jet. [29]
On 27 February 2019, Taiwan requested to buy 66 new F-16 Block 70/72 airframes for an approximate $13 billion (~$15.7 billion in 2024) as replacement for their aging Mirage 2000 and F-5 fighters.[30]
On 16 August 2019, the U.S. Department of State submitted the package to Congress,[31] total package worth $8 billion (~$9.65 billion in 2024) for 66 F-16 Block 70 and other spare parts.[32] On 13 December 2019, the US and Taiwan finalized the F-16V order.[33] On 14 August 2020, Taiwan formally signed an agreement to buy 66 F-16V jets built by Lockheed Martin.[34]
On 18 November 2021, Taiwan commissioned the first F-16V Viper combat wing (upgraded fleet to Block 72).[35] On 28 March 2025, Lockheed Martin unveiled the first newly built F-16 Block 70 jet for Taiwan.[36][37]
On 25 March 2019, the U.S. Department of Defense announced approvals for two sets of foreign military sales of F-16V hardware to Morocco; one for upgrading its existing 23 F-16s to the F-16V configuration, valued at $985.2 million; and the second for a batch of 25 new Block 72 airframes, 29 new engines, a package of precision-guided munitions, and training valued at $3.787 billion.[38][39]
On 3 March 2020, It was announced that instead of upgrading, Royal Jordanian Air Force is now looking to buy the latest F-16 Block 70/72 model to replace its current fleet of older F-16s. As early as September 2017, the Royal Jordanian Air Force was working with the U.S. Air Force Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC), based at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, to begin the Viper Block-70 operational upgrade program. This study is still under way, but it is unclear whether, and when, it will apply where necessary congressional approvals are needed to sell these possibilities to Jordan.[40]
On 30 September 2021, Turkey sent a formal request to the United States to purchase 40 new F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft and nearly 80 kits to modernize its F-16C/D fighters to F-16 Block 70/72 variant.[41] Turkey later cancelled the upgrade kits from the deal and decided to modernize F-16s locally.
On 13 August 2025, Poland signed a deal of $3.8 billion to upgrade its 48 F-16C/D Block 52+ to the Viper variant F-16V Block 72.[42][43]
- Other
In May 2021, the U.S. Air Force had awarded a $14 billion (~$15.9 billion in 2024) contract to Lockheed Martin to build new 128 Block 70/72 F-16V fighter jets on behalf of Bahrain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan, Morocco and Jordan through 2026.[44][45]
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Specifications (F-16V Block 70/72)
Data from Lockheed Martin Product Card[46]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 or 2
- Length: 49.3 ft/15.027 m
- Height: 16.7 ft/5.090 m
- Wingspan: 31.0 ft/9.449 m
- Empty Weight: 20,300 lb/9,207 kg
- Maximum TOGW: 48,000 lb/21,772 kg
- Optional Conformal Fuel Tanks (Right/Left): 220 Gallon
- Powerplant: 1 x GE F110-GE-129 engine for Block 70 aircraft (PW F100-PW-229 engine for Block 72 aircraft)
Performance
- Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2+)
- Engine Thrust Class: 29,000 lb/13,000 kg
Armament[47]
- Guns: 1 x M61Aa 20 mm Vulcan Cannon
- Rocket Pods:
- LAU-68/131
- LAU-3/5003
- Air-to-air missiles:
- AIM-120A/B/C/D AMRAAM
- AIM-9X/L/M/S Sidewinder
- Python 4/5
- IRIS-T
- Air-to-ground missiles:
- AGM-65 Maverick/AGM-65 Laser Maverick
- AGM-84L Harpoon
- AGM-84K SLAM-ER
- AGM-88 HARM
- AGM-154 JSOW
- AGM-158 JASSM/JASSM-ER
- Guided bombs:
- GBU-10 Paveway II 2000lb
- GBU-12 Paveway II 500lb
- GBU-16 Paveway II 1000lb
- GBU-24 Paveway III 2000lb
- GBU-31 (V) JDAM 2000lb
- GPU-73 Paragon
- GPU-49 Enhanced Paveway II 500lb
- GPU-50 Enhanced Paveway II 2000lb
- GBU-56 (V) Laser JDAM 2000lb
- GBU-53 SDB II StormBreaker
- GBU-39 SDB I
- GBU-32 JDAM 1000lb
- GBU-54 Laser JDAM 500lb
- GBU-38 JDAM 500lb
Avionics
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References
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