| The backbone of
Dutch Air Force is of course the General Dynamics F-16. A total of 213
Fighting Falcons were delivered between 1979 and 1990 to replace NF-5 and
F-104. Ironically 4 years after the last F-16 was delivered, some F-16's
are already withdrawn. 36 aircraft will be removed from the operational
squadrons, but 136 Falcons will receive a Mid Life Update program. F-16A
J-251 and F-16B J-650 have already been updated. 322 Squadron at
Leeuwarden will be the first user of the MLU-F-16.
Primary Function:
Multirole fighter
Power Plant: F-16A/B -- one Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-200 turbofan
engine with afterburner; F-16C/D -- one Pratt & Whitney
F100-PW-200/220 or General Electric F110-GE-100 turbofan engine with
afterburner.
Thrust: F-16A/B, 10,800 kilograms; F-16C/D, 12,150 kilograms
Length: 14.8 meters
Height: 4.8 meters
Wingspan: 9.8 meters
Speed: 1,500 mph (Mach 2)
Ceiling: 50,000+ feet (15 kilometers)
Range: 2,000 miles (1,740 nautical miles)
Armament: One M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon with 500 rounds;
external stations can carry up to six AIM-9 infrared missiles,
conventional air-to-air and air-to-surface munitions and electronic
countermeasure pods.
Crew: F-16A/C: one; F-16B/D: two
Date Deployed: 1979
Unit Cost: F-16A/B: $9.5 million; F-16 C/D: $12.8 million
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