{"id":157897,"date":"2026-09-17T22:08:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T16:38:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/?p=157897"},"modified":"2026-09-17T21:11:56","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T15:41:56","slug":"us-air-force-looks-to-new-f-16s","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviationa2z.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/17\/us-air-force-looks-to-new-f-16s\/","title":{"rendered":"Largest Air Force in the World Looks to New F-16s as Fighter Capacity Tightens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON\u2014<\/strong> The U.S. Air Force<\/a> is considering buying new F-16 Fighting Falcon<\/a> fighters as it works to address capacity gaps in an aging fighter fleet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The discussions are taking place as the service develops its proposed fiscal 2028 budget and the accompanying five-year spending plan, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new F-16 purchase would mark the first time in more than 20 years that the U.S. Air Force has ordered newly built F-16s. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The service is examining the option while Lockheed Martin continues producing the fighter for international customers at its Greenville, South Carolina, facility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"F-16D
Photo: GoodFon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

F-16 Fleet Ages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force currently has 826 F-16s in its inventory, including 484 operated by the active-duty force. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The fleet averages about 34 years old, while the newest aircraft have been flying since 2005, increasing pressure to maintain capacity as older fighters require more sustainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The F-16 remains an important multirole fighter for the service, performing both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some U.S. F-16s also perform suppression of enemy air defenses, a mission that has placed significant demands on the fleet during recent operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Air Force has not yet defined a specific requirement for a new F-16. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A spokesperson said the Department of the Air Force<\/a> remains in the early stages of analyzing options for its next Future Years Defense Program and has not established the precise mission requirements or the full range of potential solutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: United States Armed Forces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

New F-16 Production<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Any U.S. order would use Lockheed Martin’s existing F-16 production infrastructure rather than require the company to restart manufacturing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockheed moved F-16 production from Fort Worth<\/a>, Texas, to Greenville in 2019, where it continues building Block 70\/72 aircraft for international operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The potential U.S. aircraft has informally been referred to as the F-16G by people familiar with the discussions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The designation is not an official Air Force program name, and the proposed aircraft could receive capabilities beyond those found on current Block 70 fighters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lockheed’s Greenville facility has continued to expand its F-16 production capacity. The company has also reported a substantial international backlog, giving the Air Force an existing production line if it ultimately chooses to pursue new aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo: United States Armed Forces<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Advanced F-16 Upgrades<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A new-generation U.S. F-16 could incorporate upgraded electronic warfare and targeting systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite, or IVEWS, is designed to detect, identify, and counter radar-guided threats while working with the F-16’s APG-83 AESA radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The potential purchase could also affect the wider U.S. defense industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pratt & Whitney<\/a> announced on September 15 that Hermeus had received a license to manufacture the F100-PW-229 engine, which powers U.S. F-15 and F-16 fighters, creating another domestic production source for the engine, Air and Space Forces<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For the Air Force, the proposal would provide another option alongside the F-35A and F-15EX as it considers how to maintain fighter capacity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, no procurement decision has been made, and the service has yet to establish whether a new-build F-16 will form part of its future force structure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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