Transportation
The US Air Force Has The Most F-16s, You Won't Guess #2
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The F-16 fighter jet, or “the fighting falcon,” first entered service in 1978 for the US Air Force as a multirole fourth-generation fighter jet. Since then, air forces worldwide have sought it out because they get the most bang for their buck in terms of combat effectiveness for their fighter jets. Israel, Egypt, and the Netherlands are among the many who have added it to their arsenal. The Fighting Falcon has been used in the Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, the Balkans, operations in Afghanistan, and the invasion of Iraq.
Over the years, this jet has undergone upgrades and improvements, but it is still relatively cheap compared to the newest generation of fighter jets. Early variants of the F-16 sell for roughly $13 million, with more recent variants starting between $25 and $30 million. However, the most advanced versions of this aircraft can cost anywhere upwards of $60 million.
With this relatively cheap price tag for militaries looking to add to their forces, the F-16 has found its way into militaries around the world and is easily one of the most prolific fighter jets on the planet, also owing to its longevity.
To identify the countries with the most F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 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.
The F-16 comes standard with a 20mm internal automatic cannon and can be equipped with a range of air-to-air missiles and air-to-ground missiles. It can reach speeds of roughly 1,300 mph and has an operational range of 2,600 miles. The Fighting Falcon fills various roles for any air force, but it is primarily used for interception and general strike missions.
Why Are We Talking About Fighter Jets?
Sharing equipment, technology, and weapons with other countries is a way to aid our allies. US fighter jets have been sold to other countries frequently over the years, most recently to the Ukraine to aid in the war against Russia. The F-16 has a long service history and is now possessed by countries worldwide.
Here is a look at the countries with the most F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets.
25. Venezuela
- Active aircraft: 15
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Venezuelan Military Aviation
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B
24. Romania
- Active aircraft: 17
- Aircraft on order: 32
- Military branches: Romanian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B
23. Bahamas
- Active aircraft: 22
- Aircraft on order: 18
- Military branches: Royal Bahamas Defense Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D/V
22. Morocco
- Active aircraft: 23
- Aircraft on order: 24
- Military branches: Royal Moroccan Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D/V
21. Oman
- Active aircraft: 23
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Royal Air Force of Oman
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D
20. Portugal
- Active aircraft: 25
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Portuguese Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B
19. Netherlands
- Active aircraft: 26
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Royal Netherlands Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A
18. Indonesia
- Active aircraft: 32
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Indonesian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B/C/D
17. Iraq
- Active aircraft: 34
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Iraqi Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D/IQ
16. Denmark
- Active aircraft: 43
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Royal Danish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B
15. Chile
- Active aircraft: 46
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Chilean Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B/C/D
14. Poland
- Active aircraft: 48
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Polish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D
13. Thailand
- Active aircraft: 50
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Royal Thai Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B
12. Belgium
- Active aircraft: 53
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Belgian Air Component
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B
11. Jordan
- Active aircraft: 59
- Aircraft on order: 12
- Military branches: Royal Jordanian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B/V
10. Singapore
- Active aircraft: 60
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Republic of Singapore Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D
9. Pakistan
- Active aircraft: 75
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Pakistan Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B/C/D
8. United Arab Emirates
- Active aircraft: 76
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: United Arab Emirates Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 E/F
7. Taiwan
- Active aircraft: 137
- Aircraft on order: 66
- Military branches: Republic of China Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B/V
6. Greece
- Active aircraft: 154
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Hellenic Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D
5. South Korea
- Active aircraft: 167
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Republic of Korea Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D
4. Egypt
- Active aircraft: 218
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Egyptian Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B/C/D
3. Israel
- Active aircraft: 224
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Israel Air and Space Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D/I
2. Turkey
- Active aircraft: 243
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: Turkish Air Force
- Variant(s): F-16 C/D
1. United States
- Active aircraft: 897
- Aircraft on order: 0
- Military branches: United States Air Force, United States Navy
- Variant(s): F-16 A/B/C/D
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