OpsLens

20 US Military Aircraft That You Have to Know

 

F-16 Fighting Falcon, AKA ‘Viper’: An oldie but a goodie, introduced in 1978, the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a supersonic air to air combat, air to surface attack plane primarily used by the United States Air Force as well as over 25 different countries. The Fighting Falcon is a staple in the U.S. fighter jet family.

Known for its ‘bubble canopy’ and being highly maneuverable as well as her M61 Vulcan cannon that fires 20mm rounds at 6,000 rounds per minute, the F-16 is still proving to be one of the best fighters of all times.

The F-16 has seen combat in Operation Desert Storm, Operations Northern and Southern Watch, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as action in Libya. The Viper is scheduled to remain in service until 2025.

(Interesting Trivia: Many F-16 pilots and enthusiasts call it the “Viper” instead of the “Fighting Falcon” due to its similarity to the Colonial Viper Starfighter from Battlestar Galactica)

F-35 Lightning II: Sticking with the U.S. Air Force, let us present the oft debated F-35, though they aren’t the only customers; the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy both use this new aircraft as well.

While the fighter comes with a sharp, modern look and boasts new capabilities, the program to develop and manufacture it has been the biggest expenditure in military history and has been plagued with design flaws and production delays. Still, we wouldn’t want to be on the wrong team in a fight with the F-35,