In this article, we look at 5 countries that have the most F-16 fighter jets. You can read about why the fourth-generation fighter jet still remains a force to reckon with and a growing list of countries vying to get their hands on the jet by heading over to the 15 Countries that have the Most F-16 Fighter Jets.
5. South Korea
F-16 Fighter Jets: 167
We begin our list with South Korea, which has a fleet size of 167 F-16 fighter jets, primarily belonging to the C and D variants. According to FlightGlobal, 118 of these are in active service of the South Korean Air Force, while the rest are used as training aircraft. Last month, South Korea signed a $355 million deal with Pratt & Whitney, a subsidiary of RTX Corporation, to upgrade its fleet of F-15s and F-16s.
4. Egypt
F-16 Fighter Jets: 218
Next up is Egypt, which is the most powerful military in Africa, with Cairo’s aerial capabilities being a key detriment of its military strength. The Fighting Falcon is the country’s primary frontline combat aircraft, of which 168 F-16 A/C are in active use of the Egyptian Air Force, while 50 are used as training aircraft.
3. Israel
F-16 Fighter Jets: 224
Israel has the third largest fleet of F-16 fighter jets with 224 aircraft from the C/D/I variants. This is the main combat jet used by the Israeli Air Force. According to defense analysts, the F-16s operated by Israel are far superior to those flown by other countries because of the extensive upgrade and modifications made by Tel Aviv over the years, with the standout technology being the advanced avionics suite. That being said, the country is on the trajectory to move away from the F-16s as it shifts focus on the F-35. According to FlightGlobal, the Israelis have a fleet of 39 active F-35s, with another 36 on order.
2. Turkiye
F-16 Fighter Jets: 243
With 243 F-16s, Turkiye has the second largest fleet of the fourth-generation fighter jet, with more advanced variants of the fighter set to join the fleet after the United States in January approved the sale of 40 Block-70 and the upgrade of 79 of its F-16 jets. The deal is valued at $23 billion. The agreement was struck after more than two years of waiting due to strained relations between the two countries. Washington went ahead with the sale only after Ankara recently ratified Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
1. United States
F-16 Fighter Jets: 897
The United States tops the charts for countries that have the most F-16 fighter jets, with a fleet size of 897 aircraft. Of these, 738 are in active use by the US Air Force as combat jets. The F-16s are among the most versatile fighter jets in the inventory of the air force, and have been the mainstay of the country’s military combat fleet for several decades. The F-16s have been used to perform several critical aerial operations for the US military.
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