General Dynamics / Lockheed Martin F-16C / D (Block 25–52)
APG-68 radar, a glass-cockpit upgrade and a choice of GE or Pratt & Whitney engines · First flight 1984 · In service 1984
The F-16C (single-seat) and F-16D (two-seat) introduced the AN/APG-68 radar and a substantially upgraded cockpit with multifunction displays. The first Block 25 F-16C flew in June 1984 and joined the USAF that September. From Block 30/32, which entered service in 1987, customers could choose between the General Electric F110 (Blocks 30, 40, 50) and the Pratt & Whitney F100 (Blocks 32, 42, 52).
Block 40/42, first delivered in December 1988, became the 'Night Falcon' all-weather strike version with LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods, GPS, a strengthened undercarriage and a digital flight-control system. Block 50/52 followed from October 1991 with the uprated F110-GE-129 and F100-PW-229, the APG-68V5 radar and HARM integration; the F-16CJ/DJ Block 50/52, first delivered on 7 May 1993, took over the suppression-of-enemy-air-defences role from the F-4G Wild Weasel.
The export Block 52+ added provision for conformal fuel tanks along the upper fuselage. Poland received its first Block 52+ jets in 2006 and Greece in 2009; Greece's F-16s also fly the well-known 'Zeus' display. Many C/D fleets are now being upgraded to the F-16V standard with an AESA radar.
