F-16 Fighting Falcon: Cost, Contracts & Timeline

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.
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.

Program and variant milestones. Dates show only the precision the sources give.

Cost to the Government

Cost figures
Measure	Amount	Source
Program totals · 1
R&D program totalA separately identified lifetime development total has not been verified. This is not a zero-cost estimate.	Not established	—
Unit costs · 1
Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote.	$18.8MConstant FY1998 $	F-16 fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Sep 2021
Quantities · 2
Published U.S. fleet snapshotSource inventory snapshot; subsequent retirements, transfers and losses are not inferred.	1,017U.S. only	F-16 fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Sep 2021
Program quantityA comparable total acquisition quantity has not been verified.	Not established	—
Operating costs · 2
Annual O&S / aircraftHistorical average for the source study population; not a marginal mission cost.	$4.33M / yrConstant FY2018 $	Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018
Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership.	$14,818 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component	FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026

Program totals · 1

R&D program totalA separately identified lifetime development total has not been verified. This is not a zero-cost estimate.
Source not recorded
Not established

Unit costs · 1

Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote.
F-16 fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Sep 2021
$18.8MConstant FY1998 $

Quantities · 2

Published U.S. fleet snapshotSource inventory snapshot; subsequent retirements, transfers and losses are not inferred.
F-16 fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Sep 2021
1,017U.S. only
Program quantityA comparable total acquisition quantity has not been verified.
Source not recorded
Not established

Operating costs · 2

Annual O&S / aircraftHistorical average for the source study population; not a marginal mission cost.
Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018
$4.33M / yrConstant FY2018 $
Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership.
FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026
$14,818 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component

Earlier observations · 4

Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.

Earlier cost observations
Measure	Amount	Source
Unit costs · 1
Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote.	$18.8MConstant FY1998 $	F-16 fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Sep 2021
Operating costs · 3
Annual O&S / aircraft¹	$5.07M / yrConstant FY2018 $	Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2011
Annual O&S / aircraft¹	$4.33M / yrConstant FY2018 $	Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018
Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership.	$14,818 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component	FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026

Unit costs · 1

Published acquisition / aircraftHistorical fact-sheet figure; not a current replacement quote.
F-16 fact sheet U.S. Air Force · figure Sep 2021
$18.8MConstant FY1998 $

Operating costs · 3

Annual O&S / aircraft¹
Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2011
$5.07M / yrConstant FY2018 $
Annual O&S / aircraft¹
Weapon System Sustainment: GAO-21-101SP, FY2011–2018 operating costs GAO · figure FY2018
$4.33M / yrConstant FY2018 $
Reimbursement / flight hourPublished billing rate for use by another DoD component. It is not the fully burdened cost of ownership.
FY2026 aircraft hourly reimbursement rates, Other DoD Component column DoD Comptroller · figure FY2026
$14,818 / hrNominal $; Other DoD Component

¹Historical average for the source study population; not a marginal mission cost.

Reading the cost figures

The fact-sheet acquisition figure uses the dollar basis shown above. GAO’s annual operating and support cost includes a broader ownership scope than the Comptroller reimbursement rate. These figures should not be combined into a single inflation-free trend.

F-16 fact sheet U.S. Air Force · +2 more

Open research: Figures retain the date and scope of the original source. A historical count, cumulative delivery or procurement plan is not today’s mission-capable inventory. A separately identified lifetime development total has not been verified. This is not a zero-cost estimate.

What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.

Contracts$3.28B obligated since FY2008

Explore in Awards →

Contractors15

Lockheed Martin$1.93B 59%
RTX$599M 18%
BAE Systems$360M 11%
Northrop Grumman$215M 6.6%
GE Aerospace$51.2M 1.6%
Honeywell International$49.2M 1.5%
L3Harris Technologies$25.9M 0.8%
Moog$15.4M 0.5%
General Dynamics$12.6M 0.4%
Boeing$6.5M 0.2%
Teledyne Technologies$5.2M 0.2%
General Atomics$4.7M 0.1%

Awards50

Sort

Government awards. Select a sortable column heading to sort.
								Conf.
Lockheed Martin	ACQUISITION AND SHIPPING OF ARC-238 RADIOS WITH SATURN EDITION 4 CAPABILITY AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT.	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Apr 9, 2026	$15.7M	$15.7M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	F-16 AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY PROGRAM (ASIP) (2026)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 31, 2026	$23.7M	$25.2M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	ARGENTINA F-16 M6 OFP UPDATE	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Mar 17, 2025	$53.7M	$266M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	FOREIGN MILITARY SALE TO IRAQ OF INTEGRATION SERVICES FOR THE ADVANCED INTEGRATED DEFENSIVE ELECTRONIC WARFARE SUITE	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 30, 2024	$13.5M	$13.5M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	ARTEMIS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 21, 2022	$709M	$943M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	IGF::CL,CT::IGF ENGINEERING SERVICES F-16 OPERATIONAL FLIGHT PROGRAM AFGC-8-V1 RADAR POST PRODUCTION SUPPORT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 29, 2014	$11.8M	$12.1M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	IGF::CL,CT::IGF ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR F-16 AIR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY PROGRAM (ASIP)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 12, 2014	$21.1M	$12.4M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	IGF::CL,CT::IGF F-16 FALCON 2020 OGDEN ON-SITE SUPPORT, FISCAL YEAR 2014 POP 1 MARCH 2014 TO 28 FEBRUARY 2015	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 26, 2014	$25.0M	$25.0M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	IGF::CL,CT::IGF ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR F-16 SUSTAINMENT -FALCON 2020 CORE	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 25, 2014	$61.9M	$48.9M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	IGF::OT::IGF THIS TASK ORDER IS FOR PHASE II OF THE THAILAND F-16 MID-LIFE UPDATE (MLU).	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 4, 2013	$115M	$115M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	IGF::CL,CT::IGF FALCON 2020 OGDEN ON-SITE ENGINEERING/TECHNICAL LABOR SUPPORT FOR F-16 AIRCRAFT, FISCAL YEAR 2013 POP 1 MARCH 2013 TO 28 FEBRUARY 2014	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 14, 2013	$17.7M	$17.3M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	IGF::CT::IGF AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY PROGRAM	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 28, 2013	$20.2M	$20.6M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	UNDEFINITIZED CONTRACTUAL ACTION FOR F-16 SUPPORT EQUIPMENT FOR IRAQ.	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Nov 13, 2012	$31.5M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	UNDEFINITIZED CONTRACT ACTION (UCA) FOR THE PURCHASE OF SUPPORT EQUIPMENT FOR THE COUNTRY OF INDONESIA.	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Oct 29, 2012	$24.3M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	F-16 FMS SUPPORT EQUIPMENT AND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT SPARES FOR OMAN.	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Oct 22, 2012	$20.7M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	IGF::OT::IGF INDONESIA AVIONICS UPGRADE AND WING REFURBISHMENT PROGRAM	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 23, 2012	$118M	$118M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	F-16 ON-SITE TASK ORDER REQUEST (FOSTR) FY12 1 MARCH 2012 TO 28 FEBRUARY 2013	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 2, 2012	$16.1M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	FALCON 2020 ASIP FY12 SUPPORT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 8, 2012	$21.4M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	SUSTAINMENT ENGINEERING SERVICES TO ENSURE INTEGRITY, MISSION READINESS, SUSTAINABILITY, RELIABILITY, AND MAINTAINABILITY OF THE F-16 WEAPON SYSTEM.	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 7, 2012	$59.3M	$1.9M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	F-16 TECH ORDER SUSTAINMENT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 6, 2012	$11.8M	$559K	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	F-16 A/B MID-LIFE UPDATE ENGINEERING SERVICES OF 6 F-16'S.	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 23, 2011	$80.8M	$174M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	EXCEPTION: ENGINEERING SERVICES ON MILITARY AND AEROSPACE EQUIPMENT AND MILITARY WEAPONS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	May 26, 2011	$20.5M	$19.2M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	F4262001D0058	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 28, 2011	$34.5M	$40.3M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	TECHNICAL MAINTENANCE	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 7, 2011	$12.3M	$12.6M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	PRODUCTION OF BLOCK 32 AVIONICS UPGRADE KITS	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Mar 10, 2011	$68.0M	$68.0M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	DEPOT ACTIVATION FOR AN/APX-113	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Dec 20, 2010	$28.9M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 26, 2010	$15.0M	$15.0M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
RTX	F-16 CENTER DISPLAY UNIT CDU	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 5, 2010	$63.8M	$296K	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	ENGINEERING SERVICES	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 30, 2010	$13.7M	$18.4M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	OTHER AIRCRAFT EQUIPMENT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 31, 2010	$14.0M	$39.8M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	OTHER AIRCRAFT PART AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 30, 2010	$17.1M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
L3Harris Technologies	OTHER AIRCRAFT PART AND AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 30, 2010	$11.0M	$11.0M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	SYSTEMS ENGINEERING IN SUPPORT OF: FALCON 2020 ASIP	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 28, 2010	$9.5M	$10.5M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	FALCON 2020 FY 2010 CORE TASK ORDER	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Feb 26, 2010	$58.9M	$78.1M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
L3Harris Technologies	BOMB RACK	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 18, 2009	$10.7M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
RTX	SEAT, AIRCRAFT EJECTION (ACES II FWD)	U.S. Air Force	Definitive Contract	Sep 15, 2009	$12.4M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
RTX	CORE MODULE (F100-229)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 11, 2009	$20.5M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Collins Aerospace	CONTROL UNIT,SUPERV	Defense Logistics Agency	Definitive Contract	Aug 31, 2009	$12.1M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	SST INSTRUMENT UNIT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 14, 2009	$22.0M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
RTX	CORE MODULE (F100-229)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Apr 22, 2009	$34.4M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
RTX	CORE MODULE (F100-229)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Dec 22, 2008	$19.5M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation	ELECTRONIC ASSY. SET	Defense Logistics Agency	Delivery Order	Sep 29, 2008	$56.7M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Collins Aerospace	BRAKE,MULTIPLE DISK	Defense Logistics Agency	Delivery Order	Sep 26, 2008	$18.5M	$18.5M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	SST INSTRUMENT UNIT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 25, 2008	$13.4M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
GE Aerospace	MDEC	Defense Logistics Agency	Delivery Order	Sep 16, 2008	$26.0M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	SST INSTRUMENT UNIT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Sep 16, 2008	$9.2M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.	SST I-LEVEL ADAPTER SET	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Aug 1, 2008	$25.6M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
RTX	CORE MODULE (F100-229)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jul 21, 2008	$14.6M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
Lockheed Martin	F-16 TECHNICAL ORDER MAINTENANCE, REPRINT SUPPORT	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Jun 30, 2008	$18.3M	$18.0M	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported
RTX	CORE MODULE (F100-229)	U.S. Air Force	Delivery Order	Oct 22, 2007	$21.1M	—	F-16 Fighting Falcon	Reported

Obligations are signed USAspending prime-contract actions coded to this program, FY2008 to date, credited to the company that received each action. Obligations are money committed, not company revenue.

U.S. Air Force →

Timeline2

Cost to the Government

Program totals · 1

Unit costs · 1

Quantities · 2

Operating costs · 2

Unit costs · 1

Operating costs · 3

Reading the cost figures

Contracts$3.28B obligated since FY2008

Contractors15

Awards50

More U.S. Air Force Programs