Lockheed Pitches Advanced F-16G To U.S. Air Force

[CSomers611]

I think this would be good for the USAF.....Lockheed Pitches F-16G to USAF

 

NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland—Lockheed Martin is pitching an upgraded variant of the F-16, called the F-16G, to the U.S. Air Force to fill Fighting Falcon units that will age out of their existing fighters.

Multiple sources told Aviation Week that the F-16G is an improved version of the latest Block 70 variant of the fighter. A source familiar with the aircraft says it will include conformal fuel tanks, 600-gal. wing tanks, both an infrared search and track and SNIPER targeting pods and a drag chute.

The Air Force has long considered buying new F-16s. In 2021, for example, then-Air Force Assistant Secretary for Acquisition Will Roper told Aviation Week that because of the aging fleet and capacity shortfalls, the service should take advantage of the hot production line.

“As you look at the new F-16 production line in South Carolina, that system has some wonderful upgraded capabilities that are worth thinking about as part of our capacity solution,” Roper said at the time.

Lockheed Martin on Sept. 16 would not provide details on the possibility. In a statement, the company said it stands ready to support the U.S. Air Force and its mission needs. “Our proven products are the backbone of the USAF fleet and provide the most advanced and versatile capabilities to ensure air dominance now and for decades to come,” the company said.

The Air Force in a statement declined to comment specifically on the F-16G.

“The Department of the Air Force is in the initial phases of analyzing options for the next Future Years Defense Program,” the service said. “At this stage, we have neither defined the precise mission requirements nor the spectrum of options that could fill it.”

The deliberation comes after a 2025 study found a need to increase production of fighter aircraft to meet shortfalls. The service requires more airframes on its ramps to backfill its F-16 units at a faster pace than the company can produce the F-35.

The Air Force says that procuring fighters in larger numbers could increase the inventory from 1,098 in fiscal 2026 to 1,558 aircraft in fiscal 2035 “to achieve an acceptable level of risk to operations in support of the National Military Strategy,” the Congressional Research Service says.

Inside Defense reported in December 2025 that the service was weighing buying the new variant of the F-16 to fill capability gaps at a lower cost than the F-35. Air and Space Forces Magazine reported the consideration of the F-16G, saying it will be considered at the upcoming Corona gathering of the service’s top generals.

[daddyairplanes]

20 hours ago, CSomers611 said:

... the service was weighing buying the new variant of the F-16 to fill capability gaps at a lower cost than the F-35. 

more than lower cost, faster than F-35 can deliver. F-35 deliveries are likely maxed at around 200 a year, but the majority of that does NOT go to the USAF.

F-15EX was selected partially because the F-16 line was closed to be moved from Ft Worth TX to Greenville SC. 

but the F-16 production line is back open. althouhg it has a backlog of around 120 orders, its also only producing around 25 jets annually at the moment. mostly due to supply chain issues.

work those out, and we could be rocking new Vipers faster than we did new Eagles. 

The F-16G designation (even though its Lockmart given, not DoD given) does make you wonder if it will be Weasel focused. 

oh and I do think this is more likely to go through than even the EX was. as bad as the USAF wants an all 5th and 6th gen fighter force, they cant BUILD it fast enough to stay in force limits set by law. 

yes to new toys and gizmos. no to conformal fuel tanks (they'd "have' to test and train on using them compared to legacy Vipers) first to test in about 3 years(if the DoD bumps a pair of  test birds ahead of foriegn orders). first to units in about 8. legacy Vipers replaced by 35s or Block 70s in about 14 years. 

i could see it

[Gepard]

Dont forget the FQ-44A Fury, a drone, that looks like a smaler F-16. It could be the future of the USAF.