Aircraft · Air

F-16

Aircraft family included in GAO’s historical U.S. Air Force sustainment assessment. The cited operating and support costs concern the Air Force fleet in fiscal 2020, not all operators or current costs.

Unveiled Dec 13, 1973

AircraftAirMilestoneNov 10, 2022

Milestones2
Sources3
Operators—
Components—

Photo: U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cherie A. Thurlby; edited by Fir0002 · Public domain (PD-USGov-Military-Air Force)

Milestones197320222 milestones

Dec 13, 1973UnveiledYF-16 prototype rolled out, confirmed
Nov 10, 2022MilestoneGAO reports historical F-16 fleet sustainment costs, confirmed

Timeline2

Dec 13, 1973UnveiledConfirmed
YF-16 prototype rolled out
General Dynamics unveiled the first YF-16 Lightweight Fighter prototype at a ceremony at its Fort Worth, Texas, plant. The YF-16 designation was carried into production as the F-16.
SourcesAir Force Test Center History Office
Nov 10, 2022MilestoneConfirmed
GAO reports historical F-16 fleet sustainment costs
GAO reported about $4.3 billion in operating and support costs for the Air Force F-16 fleet in FY2020, expressed in constant FY2020 dollars. This is a fleet-year operating figure, not acquisition cost, unit price or current spending.
SourcesU.S. Government Accountability Office

Solid entries are confirmed, outlined reported, dashed estimated or still to come; dotted italic entries are speculative. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

News4

Oct 2, 2026NewsTaiwan’s first two F-16V fighter jets arrive to bolster defenses against ChinaDefense News Oct 2, 2026NewsAfter yearslong delay, Taiwan receives first pair of new F-16sBreaking Defense Oct 2, 2026NewsTaiwan’s First F-16 Block 70s Have Finally ArrivedThe War Zone Sep 30, 2026NewsUkraine’s F-16 Fleet Is In A Readiness CrisisThe War Zone

Sources3

1.
OtherF-16 Viper | The Most Violent Flight of My Life
Sam Eckholm · Oct 22, 2025 · Supports: System · name
“F-16”
2.
Government recordAircraft Mission Capable Goals Were Generally Not Met and Sustainment Costs Varied by Aircraft
U.S. Government Accountability Office · Nov 10, 2022 · Supports: System, System milestone
“a high of about $4.3 billion for the F-16 fleet (Air Force).”
3.
Government recordCombat Relevant Task: The Test & Evaluation of the Lightweight Fighter Prototypes
Air Force Test Center History Office · Supports: System milestone
“General Dynamics unveiled the first of its two YF-16 prototypes in a ceremony at its plant in Fort Worth, Tex., on December 13, 1973.”

Each fact on this page is attached to the sources that support it. Archived copies are linked when we keep one.