Quantcast

F-16 Block 70/72: Upgraded fighter jet extends service life beyond 2060

Airline CEO wants airports to cap passengers at 2 alcoholic drinks to limit on-board disruptions
Emirates Will Buy 5 Airbus A380s From Lessor For $200 Million
Delta Air Lines named official airline of the WNBA
Pair Of C-Suite Officials Depart Wheels Up
LAX Receives Final Cars for People Mover Train
Alaska Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines merger clears Justice Department hurdle, now faces DOT
Alaska Airlines flight attendants reject new contract, union says there's 'more work to do'
Elliott Investment To Push For 10 New Boardroom Directors At Southwest Airlines
Alaska Air Backs JetZero Blended-Wing Design
AI in Aviation Line Maintenance: A Strategic Response to Delays, Satisfaction, and Staffing Challenges
Air taxi service plans for 2026 Los Angeles launch at USC, SoFi and LAX
VistaJet Flight Brings Home Americans in Prisoner Swap
Air Canada Blames Paris Olympics On Decreased Profits
Delta passengers sue airline over refund refusals after CrowdStrike meltdown
Microsoft fires back at Delta after massive outage, says airline declined ‘repeated’ offers for help
Korean Air Confirms A Spacious Lounge Is Coming To The New Terminal One at New York JFK
VAS Aero Services to Acquire an Additional 17 Airbus A320 Airframes, Bringing to 23 the Total Number of A320s Slated for Teardown and Harvested Parts Redistribution
Delta CEO says CrowdStrike-Microsoft outage cost the airline $500 million
Boeing Reports $16.9 Billion In Revenue For 2nd Quarter With 5,400 Commercial Aircraft Backlog
United Airlines says flight attendant in Terrell Davis incident is no longer employed and NFL legend’s ‘no fly’ ban is lifted | CNN
Nepal Plane Crash Kills 18 After Takeoff - Airline Ratings
Southwest Airlines is getting rid of open seating | CNN Business
CrowdStrike Outage Caused 10% Spike in Air Charter
Aircraft Engine Maintenance and Repair to Peak in 2026, Worsening Capacity Shortage for Commercial Aviation, Says Bain & Company
Joby’s Electric Air Taxi Makes European Debut
The National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation announces NLRB-scheduled vote to remove union officials
Families recount the horror of MH17 ten years on - Airline Ratings
777-9 Enters Certification Flight Testing - AVweb
Kompass Kapital Sets New Course with Airshare Investment
SATS, SIA Engineering Company and Changi Airport Group to Trial Autonomous Buses at Changi Airport
F-16 Block 70/72: Upgraded fighter jet extends service life beyond 2060
Policy
Webp 5r3vc2svdh8ibaxk8gr8iutw0za2
Simple Flying | Simple Flying

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole fighter aircraft known for its capabilities in both air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It is designed to be a cost-effective, high-performance weapon system used by the United States and allied nations. The aircraft's maneuverability and combat radius enable it to locate targets under various weather conditions and detect low-flying aircraft amid radar ground clutter. In air-to-surface roles, it can cover over 500 miles while delivering weapons with accuracy.

Lockheed Martin, the current manufacturer, describes the F-16 Block 70/72 variant as "the most upgraded 4th-generation fighter ever built," offering new capabilities to global air forces. This version has been developed continuously for over five decades, with the latest upgrades proposed in 2012.

The F-16 Block 70/72 stands out due to its advanced radar systems that enhance situational awareness and allow simultaneous engagement of multiple targets. Its conformal fuel tanks increase range and endurance without significantly affecting aerodynamic performance.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

The Fourth Generation Fighter category includes models like the American F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Hornet, Chengdu J-10, and MiG-29 Fulcrum. These fighters utilize Fly-by-Wire control systems with digital processing for improved flying characteristics. Unlike their third-generation predecessors, these aircraft are designed for greater maneuverability rather than just straight-line speed.

Developed during periods of reduced military spending after the Cold War, 4.5-generation jet fighters incorporate emerging fifth-generation technologies while maintaining some fourth-generation characteristics. These jets feature stealth capabilities, radar-absorbent materials, thrust vector-controlled engines, extended range, and endurance.

Pratt & Whitney's F100 engines power the F-15 and F-16 fighters globally. With over 3,800 engines in use across 23 air forces worldwide, these engines include fifth-generation technology within a modular architecture supported at existing bases.

Compared to other jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon or Dassault Rafale, the F-16 Block 70/72 offers superior fuel efficiency and longer structural life exceeding 12,000 hours. It remains a cost-efficient option for many air forces despite concerns expressed by Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl about its supply to Ukraine.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Alaska Airlines has announced a significant expansion of its route network for 2026, with plans to introduce service to two new cities and launch 13 new or returning routes.

Oct 25, 2025

Delta Air Lines will introduce new in-flight menu options created by celebrity chef José Andrés starting November 4.

Oct 25, 2025

The Blue Sky partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue launched today, allowing members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem points across the two carriers.

Oct 25, 2025

Air Canada is set to expand its presence at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (YTZ) by introducing four new nonstop routes to the United States in 2026.

Oct 25, 2025

United Airlines has announced it will add 10 new destinations from its Chicago O'Hare International Airport hub starting next year.

Oct 25, 2025

The partnership between United Airlines and JetBlue, known as Blue Sky, has officially launched.

Oct 25, 2025