Originally entering the service of the US Air Force in 1978, the F-16 Fighting Falcon was designed as a multirole, fourth-generation fighter. Since then, it has seen a number of upgrades that have kept it relevant on modern battlefields. While it might lack some of the more advanced stealth capabilities of fifth-gen fighters, the F-16 has a storied history and is easily one of the most popular fighter aircraft among world militaries, considering its combination of price and combat effectiveness.
In order to maximize defense budgets, air forces around the globe are constantly looking for a bigger bang without breaking the bank. For many, the F-16 Fighting Falcon fills that roll perfectly. Early models of the F-16 could be had for around $13 million, while newer variants typically range from $25 to $30 million. However, the most advanced versions can cost upwards of $60 million–typically the Viper (F-16V) variants–but still come in cheaper than practically all fifth-generation fighters.
This relatively affordable price tag, in conjunction with its solid performance, has made the F-16 a staple in air forces worldwide. It comes armed with a 20mm internal cannon standard and supports a wide mix of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. With a top speed near 1,300 mph and an operational range of roughly 2,600 miles, the Fighting Falcon is capable of handling a variety of missions, from air interceptions to precision strikes. Even though the next generation of fighter jets is already being sold on the global market, few aircraft can match the F-16 Fighting Falcon and its global reach as well as its service longevity. (Meet the Sixth-Generation Stealth Bomber That Tops 600 MPH)
To identify the countries with the most F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2025 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ranked these countries according to the number of F-16 currently in service. We included supplemental information regarding active F-16s in respective fleets, military branches that will be using these aircraft, and what variants of the F-16 are on order or are currently in service.
Here is a look at the countries with the most F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets:
Why Are We Covering This?
Tracking global F-16 Fighting Falcon arsenals sheds some light on which nations are prioritizing affordability and versatility in their air forces, while still maintaining a cutting-edge fleet. The F-16 is a fourth-generation fighter jet with a solid track record. The Fighting Falcon is a proven workhorse capable of carrying out a wide range of missions, from air-to-air combat to precision ground strikes. Knowing which countries operate the F-16 helps map out global defense alignments.
29. Argentina
- Active F-16 aircraft: 0
- F-16 aircraft on order: 24
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Argentinian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A
To afford these aircraft, Argentina has a defense budget of $928,897,000, which ranks #89 in the world. Also, Argentina has a total of 239 military aircraft, including 23 fighter aircraft and 11 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 14,000 Air Force personnel.
28. Bulgaria
- Active F-16 aircraft: 0
- F-16 aircraft on order: 16
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Bulgarian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16V
To afford these aircraft, Bulgaria has a defense budget of $1,373,232,000, which ranks #80 in the world. Also, Bulgaria has a total of 65 military aircraft, including 10 fighter aircraft and 5 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 8,500 Air Force personnel.
27. Philippines
- Active F-16 aircraft: 0
- F-16 aircraft on order: 12
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Philippine Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16V
To afford these aircraft, the Philippines has a defense budget of $4,380,000,000, which ranks #55 in the world. Also, the Philippines has a total of 202 military aircraft, including 25 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 33,600 Air Force personnel.
26. Ukraine
- Active F-16 aircraft: 2
- F-16 aircraft on order: 58
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Ukrainian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A
To afford these aircraft, Ukraine has a defense budget of $53,700,000,000, which ranks #10 in the world. Also, Ukraine has a total of 324 military aircraft, including 70 fighter aircraft and 36 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 35,000 Air Force personnel.
25. Slovakia
- Active F-16 aircraft: 2
- F-16 aircraft on order: 12
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Slovak Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16V
To afford these aircraft, Slovakia has a defense budget of $2,656,000,000, which ranks #64 in the world. Also, Slovakia has a total of 41 military aircraft, including 2 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 3,200 Air Force personnel.
24. Venezuela
- Active F-16 aircraft: 4
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Venezuelan Military Aviation
- Variant(s): F-16A/B
To afford these aircraft, Venezuela has a defense budget of $4,093,120,000, which ranks #57 in the world. Also, Venezuela has a total of 229 military aircraft, including 30 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 20,000 Air Force personnel.
23. Morocco
- Active F-16 aircraft: 23
- F-16 aircraft on order: 24
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Royal Moroccan Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D/V
To afford these aircraft, Morocco has a defense budget of $13,400,000,000, which ranks #27 in the world. Also, Morocco has a total of 260 military aircraft, including 83 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 13,500 Air Force personnel.
22. Oman
- Active F-16 aircraft: 23
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Royal Air Force of Oman
- Variant(s): F-16C/D
To afford these aircraft, Oman has a defense budget of $8,200,000,000, which ranks #36 in the world. Also, Oman has a total of 128 military aircraft, including 29 fighter aircraft and 10 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 5,600 Air Force personnel.
21. Portugal
- Active F-16 aircraft: 25
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Portuguese Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B
To afford these aircraft, Portugal has a defense budget of $4,627,000,000, which ranks #52 in the world. Also, Portugal has a total of 115 military aircraft, including 28 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 6,000 Air Force personnel.
20. Romania
- Active F-16 aircraft: 26
- F-16 aircraft on order: 23
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Romanian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B
To afford these aircraft, Romania has a defense budget of $9,700,000,000, which ranks #33 in the world. Also, Romania has a total of 140 military aircraft, including 21 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 11,700 Air Force personnel.
19. Bahrain
- Active F-16 aircraft: 28
- F-16 aircraft on order: 7
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Royal Bahraini Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D/V
To afford these aircraft, Bahrain has a defense budget of $1,597,200,000, which ranks #75 in the world. Also, Bahrain has a total of 132 military aircraft, including 24 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 1,500 Air Force personnel.
18. Indonesia
- Active F-16 aircraft: 32
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Indonesian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B/C/D
To afford these aircraft, Indonesia has a defense budget of $10,600,000,000, which ranks #29 in the world. Also, Indonesia has a total of 459 military aircraft, including 41 fighter aircraft and 34 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 30,100 Air Force personnel.
17. Iraq
- Active F-16 aircraft: 34
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Iraqi Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D/IQ
To afford these aircraft, Iraq has a defense budget of $7,923,000,000, which ranks #37 in the world. Also, Iraq has a total of 391 military aircraft, including 26 fighter aircraft and 36 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 5,000 Air Force personnel.
16. Denmark
- Active F-16 aircraft: 41
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Royal Danish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B
To afford these aircraft, Denmark has a defense budget of $7,225,466,250, which ranks #40 in the world. Also, Denmark has a total of 117 military aircraft, manned by a total of 3,500 Air Force personnel.
15. Chile
- Active F-16 aircraft: 46
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Chilean Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B/C/D
To afford these aircraft, Chile has a defense budget of $5,032,500,000, which ranks #48 in the world. Also, Chile has a total of 277 military aircraft manned by a total of 12,000 Air Force personnel.
14. Thailand
- Active F-16 aircraft: 47
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Royal Thai Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B
To afford these aircraft, Thailand has a defense budget of $5,887,883,500, which ranks #45 in the world. Also, Thailand has a total of 493 military aircraft, including 72 fighter aircraft and 20 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 46,000 Air Force personnel.
13. Poland
- Active F-16 aircraft: 48
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Polish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D
To afford these aircraft, Poland has a defense budget of $48,700,000,000, which ranks #12 in the world. Also, Poland has a total of 479 military aircraft, including 59 fighter aircraft and 44 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 16,500 Air Force personnel.
12. Belgium
- Active F-16 aircraft: 51
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Belgian Air Component
- Variant(s): F-16A/B
To afford these aircraft, Belgium has a defense budget of $10,200,000,000, which ranks #31 in the world. Also, Belgium has a total of 108 military aircraft manned by a total of 6,500 Air Force personnel.
11. Jordan
- Active F-16 aircraft: 59
- F-16 aircraft on order: 12
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Royal Jordanian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B/V
To afford these aircraft, Jordan has a defense budget of $2,500,000,000, which ranks #65 in the world. Also, Jordan has a total of 274 military aircraft manned by a total of 14,000 Air Force personnel.
10. Singapore
- Active F-16 aircraft: 60
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Republic of Singapore Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D
To afford these aircraft, Singapore has a defense budget of $15,000,000,000, which ranks #26 in the world. Also, Singapore has a total of 230 military aircraft, including 100 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 13,500 Air Force personnel.
9. Pakistan
- Active F-16 aircraft: 75
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Pakistan Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B/C/D
To afford these aircraft, Pakistan has a defense budget of $7,640,000,000, which ranks #38 in the world. Also, Pakistan has a total of 1,399 military aircraft, including 328 fighter aircraft and 90 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 78,128 Air Force personnel.
8. United Arab Emirates
- Active F-16 aircraft: 76
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: United Arab Emirates Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16E/F
To afford these aircraft, United Arab Emirates has a defense budget of $2,212,360,382, which ranks #70 in the world. Also, United Arab Emirates has a total of 551 military aircraft, including 99 fighter aircraft and 16 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 4,000 Air Force personnel.
7. Taiwan
- Active F-16 aircraft: 138
- F-16 aircraft on order: 66
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Republic of China Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B/V
To afford these aircraft, Taiwan has a defense budget of $19,740,000,000, which ranks #23 in the world. Also, Taiwan has a total of 761 military aircraft, including 285 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 35,000 Air Force personnel.
6. Greece
- Active F-16 aircraft: 152
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Hellenic Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D
To afford these aircraft, Greece has a defense budget of $6,500,000,000, which ranks #44 in the world. Also, Greece has a total of 558 military aircraft, including 178 fighter aircraft, manned by a total of 42,500 Air Force personnel.
5. South Korea
- Active F-16 aircraft: 167
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Republic of Korea Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D
To afford these aircraft, South Korea has a defense budget of $46,300,000,000, which ranks #14 in the world. Also, South Korea has a total of 1,592 military aircraft, including 315 fighter aircraft and 98 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 65,000 Air Force personnel.
4. Egypt
- Active F-16 aircraft: 218
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Egyptian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16A/B/C/D
To afford these aircraft, Egypt has a defense budget of $5,879,500,000, which ranks #46 in the world. Also, Egypt has a total of 1,093 military aircraft, including 238 fighter aircraft and 90 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 50,000 Air Force personnel.
3. Israel
- Active F-16 aircraft: 223
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Israel Air and Space Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D/I
To afford these aircraft, Israel has a defense budget of $30,500,000,000, which ranks #17 in the world. Also, Israel has a total of 611 military aircraft, including 240 fighter aircraft and 38 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 89,000 Air Force personnel.
2. Turkey
- Active F-16 aircraft: 238
- F-16 aircraft on order: 40
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: Turkish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16C/D/V
To afford these aircraft, Turkey has a defense budget of $47,000,000,000, which ranks #13 in the world. Also, Turkey has a total of 1,083 military aircraft manned by a total of 115,000 Air Force personnel.
1. United States
- Active F-16 aircraft: 875
- F-16 aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches employing F-16 aircraft: United States Air Force, United States Navy
- Variant(s): F-16A/B/C/D
To afford these aircraft, United States has a defense budget of $895,000,000,000, which ranks #1 in the world. Also, United States has a total of 13,043 military aircraft, including 1,790 fighter aircraft and 889 attack aircraft, manned by a total of 701,319 Air Force personnel.
Top Gaining Stocks
Top Losing Stocks