F-16 Fighting Falcon

Positioned as a lower-cost alternative to the F-15 Eagle air superiority fighter and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter-bomber, the F-16 Fighting Falcon, more commonly called the Viper by its pilots, is a multirole fighter used the United States Air Force and a large number of foreign militaries. In the system of fighter generations, it is usually considered fourth generation.

The United States Navy F-18 Hornet is a carrier-based aircraft that has a role comparable to the F-16; the F-18E/F Super Hornet is more generation 4.5. The Soviet/Russian MiG-29 has a roughly comparable role to the F-16 and F-18; there is a carrier-capable MiG-29K.

F-16's do not have the range of the F-15, but routinely use air refueling.

Successor

For the Air Force conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) role, the F-16 is to be replaced by the F-35A Lighting II.