The US Air Force Flies More F-16 Fighting Falcons Than Any Other Jet

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24/7 Wall St. Insights:

• Introduced in 1978, the Fighting Falcon is a fairly versatile and upgradeable multirole fourth generation fighter jet
• The F-16 has become a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force and is its most popular and widely-flown aircraft
• Early variants of the F-16 sell for roughly $13 million with more recent variants starting between $25 and $30 million
• Also: Discover the next Nvidia

The Fighting Falcon first entered service in 1978 in the U.S. Air Force as a multirole fourth generation fighter jet. Over the years this jet has undergone upgrades and improvements, but it is still relatively cheap compared to the newest generation of fighter jets. Over nearly half a century in service, the F-16 has become a mainstay of the U.S. Air Force and is its most popular and widely-flown aircraft. This is not just true of the U.S. Air Force but for many other militaries as well. ( The U.S. has the most Fighting Falcons, you won't guess #2. )

Air forces around the world are constantly seeking to get the most bang for their buck in terms of combat effectiveness for their fighter jets. The F-16 Fighting Falcon fills this role perfectly for many of these air forces and as such has seen wide usage throughout its lengthy military career.

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. However, there are many other aircraft in the U.S. Air Force that see wide usage as well. ( These are the most widely used aircraft on Earth. )

24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the most active aircraft in the USAF. To identify the most widely flown aircraft in the U.S. Air Force, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 World Air Forces report from FlightGlobal, an aviation and aerospace industry publication. We ordered these aircraft by how many are currently in active service. We also included supplemental data on the type of aircraft and top speed. We excluded trainer aircraft.

Here is a look at the most widely flown aircraft in the U.S. Air Force: Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the aircraft in the US Air Force is important because these aircraft play a pivotal role in maintaining national security and global stability. Each aircraft is designed for specific missions, from air superiority to strategic bombing and reconnaissance, which are essential for defending the country and projecting power abroad. Also knowing which aircraft are in service give context to military capabilities and a better understanding of national defense.

• Type: Multirole light aircraft
• Year introduced: 1990
• Active aircraft: 75 on order
• Top speed: 221 mph
• Armament: Gun pods, cannon pods, conventional drop bombs

Currently there are no Sky Wardens in service; however, the U.S. Air Force is in the process of ordering a number of these aircraft.

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