The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter aircraft developed by General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft.
The F-16 is the largest Western fighter program with over 4,000 aircraft built since production started in 1976.
The Fighting Falcon is a dogfighter with innovations including a frameless, bubble canopy for better visibility, sidemounted control stick to ease control while under high g-forces, and reclined seat to reduce the effect of g-forces on the pilot.
It was also the first fighter aircraft to be deliberately built to sustain 9-g turns.