The F-16 Fighter is 50 Years Old, Here's How Many Are Still Flying For the United States

24/7 Wall St. Insights

We used data from the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication.
Early variants of the F-16 sell for roughly $13 million, with more recent variants starting between $25 and $30 million.
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Due to its exceptional agility and maneuverability and formidable performance in air-to-air combat, the F-16 fighter jet has proven to be an effective tool in many air forces worldwide. “The Fighting Falcon” first entered service in 1978 with the US Air Force and has since become a part of air forces such as Israel, Egypt, and the Netherlands, among many more. The aircraft has fought in the Persian Gulf War, Operation Desert Storm, the Balkans, operations in Afghanistan, and the invasion of Iraq.

Recently, the US sent Ukraine approximately 65 F-16s and aided them in reprogramming the electronic warfare systems on the vessels. The hope is that this equipment will aid Ukraine in its continued war efforts against an advancing Russian military attempting to invade. The fighter jets are just a fraction of the approximately 2,231 the United States operates currently.

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. It 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 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.