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History
The F-16A and F-16B are the first production versions and are, apart from the number of seats, identical.
The USAF decided not to used the well known abbreviations to designate all smaller modifications applied during production.
The result of this policy is that there are relatively many production Blocks, OCU's and MSIPs. So designations like F-16A-1-CF are not correct.
MSIP means Multinational Staged Improvement Program, this is a program which contains (the description of) a large amount of changes.
OCU (Operational Capability Upgrade) is an improvement of the operational employability and incorporates structural improvements and also the replacement of the F-100-200 engine with the F-100-220 engine which is more reliable.
Below a description of the various production blocks as produced by Fokker of the F-16A and F-16B [General Dynamics and later Lockheed-Martin produced also F-16A.B block 20 and then started production of the F-16C/D version; for an overview of F-16 variants, visit F-16.net:
- Block 1:
- Both YF-16 prototypes and the eight pre production aircraft were followed by the first production block of operational F-16s.
The first F-16A, fiscal year nr. 78-0001, made its maiden flight in august 1978 and was delivered to the USAF the same month.
A total of 94 examples were produced. This production block characterizes itself with the black nose, the single UHF antenna under the air intake and the smaller horizontal stabilizers.
From the end of 1981 till mid of 1984 these aircraft are upgraded to block 10 standard with the upgrade programs Pacer Loft I and Pacer Loft II and they were equipped with the grey nose and later also the enlarged horizontal rudders. - Block 5:
- Because the black nose radome proved to be clearly visible, this production block was equipped with a grey nose radome..
The UHF antenna and smaller horizontal rudders were maintained..
Differences with block 1 are very minimal and are mainly changes to improve reliability and mission readiness.
From the end of 1981 till mid of 1984 these aircraft were upgraded to block 10 standard with the upgrade programs Pacer Loft I and Pacer Loft II and they were equipped with the grey nose and later also the enlarged horizontal rudders.
A total of 197 aircraft were built. - Block 10:
- Of this version 312 examples were built. The UHF antenna was changed, but remained on the same location. Further mainly internal differences.
- Block 15:
- This block also known as MSIP Stage I incorporated many improvements and other changes.
These changes were enlarged rudders, which had as a result different lift-off rotation speeds and allowed a more stable flight at higher angles of attack and better possibility to correct so call "out-of control" situations.
The Block 15 aircraft can also be recognized by the two small rectangular antennas for radar warning, situated under the nose., the antenna at the front of the tail and the UHF antenna, which had been moved from the air intake to a ventral location between both fins. The AN/APG-66 radar has an early version of the so called "track-while-scan mode" to improve air defence capability.
Also the Block 15 has a different radio, the Have Quick I secure UHF radio. Further the air condition was improved.
Also several structural strengthening s were added to wings and fuselage. so more pay load could be taken.
In 1982 an upgrade program was started for the avionics of all Block 1 and block /5 F-16A/B's, code Pacer Loft I.
In December 1983 a second program followed, Pacer Loft II.
A total of 457 Block 15 F-16A and F-16Bs were built, 410 F-16A and 47 F-16B. - Block 15 OCU:
- 214 aircraft of the Block 15 batch received from block 15Y (from the end of 1987) upgraded systems. These aircraft were designated Block 15 OCU (Operation Capability Upgrade) and had an improved, more reliable Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 turbo fan.
Further they received internal structural strengthening, a larger, wide angle HUD, as was introduced on the F-16 C/D.
The OCU aircraft had the possibility to carry the Kongsberg built, Norwegian Penquin Mk.3 anti shipping missile, (US designation AGM-119; provisions for the AGM-65 and the AIM-120 AMRAAM, a radar altimeter, extended computer capacity, a data transfer unit; AN/APX-101 IFF, Tracor AN/ALE-40 chaff/flare dispenser and provisions for the AN/ALQ-131 ECM pod.
These changes resulted in an increased take-off weight to a maximum of 37,500 lbs (17. 010 kg).
The first block 15 OCU was delivered January 1988. From 1988 all Block 15 F-16s were built according this new OCU specifications.
Comparision of the several productipon blocks showing the most main eternal differences..
| Dimensions: | |||
| Length: | 14,52 m | Wingspan: | 9,45 m |
| Height: | 5,01 m | Wing area: | 27,87 m2 |
| Weights: | |||
| Empty weight: | 14968 kg | Max. start weight: | 16875 kg |
| Performances: | |||
| Max. speed: | 2123 km/hr | Climbing speed: | - m/min |
| Cruising speed: | - km/hr | ||
| Range: | 1604 km | Service ceiling: | 15240 m |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Engine type: | One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200 rated 10794 kg thrust. | ||
| Crew: | One | ||
| Armament: | One Vulcan M61 canon; AIM-9J sidewinders; bombs | ||
| Dimensions: | |||
| Length: | 14,52 m | Wingspan: | 9,45 m |
| Height: | 5,01 m | Wing area: | 27,87 m2 |
| Weights: | |||
| Empty weight: | 14.968 kg | Max. start weight: | 17.010 kg |
| Performances: | |||
| Max. speed: | 2123 km/hr | Climbing speed: | - m/min |
| Cruising speed: | - km/hr | ||
| Range: | 1604 km | Service ceiling: | 15240 m |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Engine type: | One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 rated 10794 kg thrust. | ||
| Crew: | One | ||
| Armament: | One Vulcan M61 canon; AIM-9J sidewinders; bombs | ||
| Dimensions: | |||
| Length: | 15,03 m | Wingspan: | 9,8 m |
| Height: | 5,01 m | Wing area: | 27,87 m2 |
| Weights: | |||
| Empty weight: | 14968 kg | Max. start weight: | 16875 kg |
| Performances: | |||
| Max. speed: | 2123 km/hr | Climbing speed: | - m/min |
| Cruising speed: | - km/hr | ||
| Range: | 1604 km | Service ceiling: | 15240 m |
| Miscellaneous: | |||
| Engine type: | One Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200E rated 10767 kg thrust. | ||
| Crew: | One | ||
| Armament: | One Vulcan M61 canon; AIM-9J sidewinders; bombs | ||
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