General Dynamics F-16BM Fighting Falcon

The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is currently the most numerous combat aircraft in NATO. Originally developed for the USAF as a day fighter, the F-16 has evolved into a highly capable multi-role combat aircraft that despite flying for the first time in 1974 is still in production. Over 4,500 F-16s have been produced over the past 49 years and 3,000 of them are still in service with 25 nations around the world. The most recent version is called the Block 70/72 and includes a new cockpit, computers, an advanced AESA radar based on the one installed in the F-35.

Jordan first received the F-16 A/B Block 15 ADF (Air Defence Fighter) variant from retired US stock in 1997 and since then has received further deliveries of the ADF variant from the US together with the updated F-16AM and BM MLU (Mid Life Update) variants from Belgium and the Netherlands. In total Jordan have acquired 79 aircraft A/B model F-16s, with most of the earlier aircraft having been also upgraded to the MLU standard. The Royal Jordanian Air Force have recently used their F-16 fleet as part of the ongoing international operation against ISIS in Syria. During early 2023, Jordan signed a contract to acquire a number of new build Block 70 F-16s from Lockheed Martin.

Whilst the Royal Jordanian Air Force are a strong supporter of the Royal International Air Tattoo and appear annually on static display with a C-130 Hercules and with the Royal Jordanian Falcons in our flying display, the last time they have sent fast jet combat aircraft to an Air Tattoo was during 1989 and to the Air Tournament International at RAF Boscombe Down in 1990. We are therefore very pleased to announce that the Royal Jordanian Air Force will be supporting our celebration of 50 years of the F-16 by providing a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons, a single seat F-16AM and two seat F-16BM, on for static display at RIAT 2024.

Photo Credit: Dean West