Summary

  • F-16 Block 70/72 is a 4.5-gen fighter with advanced features making it a modern Viper.
  • F-16 Block 70/72s are not sufficient for all air forces with some upgrading to F-35s.
  • European 4.5-gen fighters like the Eurofighter & Gripen are optimized for different threat environments.

The F-16 is a small multi-role American fighter jet that has proven exceptionally popular in export markets around the world. It is the most produced late Cold War-era American fighter jet and has seen numerous upgrades and variants. The latest Block 70/72 is considered to be a 4.5 Gen fighter and has advanced features that make it the ultimate Viper. A glimpse into the F-16 Block 70/72 cockpit shows how much the fighter jet has evolved since the early F-16 models.

The F-16 Block 70/72 is a superb fighter jet capable of holding its own in most threat environments. However, as with all fighter jets, it is one piece in a larger system influenced by pilot training, missile payload, and many other enablers (such as AWACS data sharing). The better jet is not necessarily the winning jet on the battlefield.

What is a 4th & 4.5 gen fighter?

There is no universal agreement on what a 4th, 4.5, or 5th generation fighter is. That said, the 4th-generation basically describes the advanced fighters that have been around since around 1980. Some of these fighters have been developed into what is considered 4.5 generation fighters. While early models of F-16s are considered 4th gen fighters, F-16 Block 70/72 is considered a 4.5-generation fighter.

Pilot in the F-16

Photo: Lockheed Martin

A 4.5 gen fighter can be considered a fully modern fighter jet equipped with state-of-the-art avionics but not designed from the ground up with stealth in mind (like the F-22 and F-35). These jets have upgraded radars, enhanced avionics, the ability to use a range of modern advanced armaments, and high-capacity data links.

Examples of 4.5 generation fighters:

  • F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
  • F-15E/EX Strike Eagle
  • Sukhoi Su-30SM/Su-34
  • MiG-35
  • Eurofighter Typhoon
  • Dassault Rafale
  • Gripen
  • Chengdu J-10

Related

JF-17 Thunder: Did You Know China & Pakistan Teamed Up To Produce A 21st Century Combat Aircraft?

The CAC/PAC JF-17 Thunder is a multirole fighter built jointly by China and Pakistan.

F-16 Block 70/72: a 4.5 Gen fighter

Upgrades are expected to keep the F-16 Block 70/72 relevant to 2060 and beyond in some air forces worldwide. That being said, it should be noted that the United States Air Force no longer purchases F-16s (meaning their production is for export-only), and some air forces (such as Denmark and the Netherlands) are already retiring and off-loading their F-16s as they upgrade to F-35 5th gen fighters. The F-16s Ukraine is about to receive are older F-16s less capable than Block 70/72. Regarding modern F-16 Block 70/72s, Lockheed Martin makes the bold claim:

“Today’s F-16 –the Block 70/72 –is the most advanced 4th generation fighter ever built and brings a new level of capability to air forces around the world.” Lockheed Martin

Group of F-16s flying

Photo: Mike Mareen l Shutterstock

Block 70/72 has been upgraded with Northrop Grumman’s advanced APG-83 AESA radar, providing the F-16 with 5th-generation fighter radar capabilities. It uses a new high-resolution Center Pedestal Display (CPD), which provides critical tactical colored imagery for the pilots. Improvements enhance pilot situational awareness and warfighter survivability.

The F-16 Block 70/72 also has an extended structural life of up to 12,000 hours (50% more than previous F-16 aircraft). It is expected to be highly reliable and maintainable for at least 40 years in most air forces. Block 70/72 comes with many other improvements, and it’s impossible to list them all here.

Related

How Many Fighter Jets Does Russia Have?

Russia’s air force ranks among the world’s largest.

Other 4.5 generation fighters

Comparison with European 4.5 gen fighters

The Europeans have three aircraft that can be considered 4.5 gen fighters: the Eurofighter Typhoon (built by the British, Germans, and others), the Dassault Rafale (built by the French), and the Saab Gripen (built by the Swedes). Note that different aircraft are built for different threat environments (and the French Rafale has a carrier-based variant). The Gripen is designed to operate against Russian fighter jets in a scenario where Sweden has to disperse its jets around the country. They are optimized to operate in more rugged conditions and with fast turnaround times.

A Closeup of a French Air Force Dassault Rafale on a runway.

Photo: VanderWolf Images | Shutterstock

F-16 Block 70/72 (Lockheed Martin data)

Eurofighter (RAF data)

Dassault Rafale (Dassault data)

Speed:

Mach 2+

Mach 1.8

Mach 1.8

Empty weight:

20,300 lbs

22,000 lbs

22,000 lbs

Max altitude:

55,000 feet

55,000 feet

50,000 feet

Number produced/ordered:

4,700+ (all variants)

680 ordered

495 ordered

Comparison with Russian & Chinese 4.5 gen fighters

Modern aircraft are not built for speed like they used to be. For example, the Russian MiG-31 is a supersonic interceptor and is the fastest operational combat jet in the world, but it is considered to be a legacy 4th generation fighter. The MiG-31 has been notable during the Full-Scale Russian invasion of Ukraine as being the platform from which Kinzhal hypersonic missiles are fired.

Russian fighters considered 4.5 gen include the MiG-35 (a new multirole fighter developed from the MiG-29 family) and variants of the Flanker family. The MiG-35 includes vastly improved avionics and weapons systems compared to early MiG-29s. The Sukhoi Su-27 family has been developed into the wider Flanker family of Su-27, Su-30, Su-33, Su-34, and Su-34. These do not represent clean-sheet designs.

F-16 Block 70/72

MiG-35

Su-30SM

Chengdu J-10 (Flugzueg data)

Speed:

Mach 2+

Mach 2.25

Mach 2

Mach 1.85

Empty weight:

20,300 lbs

24,251 lbs

39,022 lbs

15,300 lbs

Max altitude:

55,000 feet

52,000 feet

56,800 feet

59,055 feet

Number produced/ordered:

4,700+ (all variants)

6+

over 630

over 600

Russia's Sukhoi Su-30

Photo: Borka Kiss | Shutterstock

China is also considered to have 4.5-gen fighters, including the Shenyang J-15 multirole fighter (developed from the Soviet Su-33) and the delta-wing Chengdu J-10 multiple fighter. The Chengdu J-10 has also been exported to the Pakistan Air Force.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *