Despite being strong aircraft, the F-35 vs F-16 are not the same in a few crucial respects. Designed for stealth and superior sensor fusion, the F-35 Lightning II is a fifth-generation aircraft that offers a complete view of the battlefield. It improves situational awareness and coordinated strikes by exchanging data with other planes and platforms. Although it is not a stealthy aircraft, the fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon is incredibly nimble and maneuverable. Many air forces throughout the world utilize it because of its track record. Although the F-35 requires more money to purchase and operate, it is more agile and equipped to perform air-to-ground and air-to-air operations.
The air force’s unique requirements will determine which option is best. Some air forces choose to combine the two, making use of their respective advantages. The “best” option is determined by the air force in question’s budget and unique requirements.
You can check out the fighters tf-x kaan vs f-35, f-16 vs tf-x, F-22 Raptor, Sukhoi Su-57, F-35 Lightning II, TF-X KAAN, KAI KF-21 Boramae and Chengdu J-20.
We have compared this Sukhoi Su-57 vs F-35 Fighter jet, f-22 vs su-57, f-22 vs j-20, kf-21 Boramae vs tf-x KAAN, f-22 Raptor VS kf-21 Boramae, F-22 Raptor VS TAI TF-X KAAN, f-16 vs tf-x, f-35 vs f-16 and America vs Russia military power comparison 2024. If you are interested in the military, you can check it out by clicking here
Basic outlook comparison of f-35 vs f-16
Comparison of weight and engine power of f-35 vs f-16
Comparison of Range and Altitude of f-35 vs f-16
Comparison of Armory Carry of F-35 vs F-16
F-35 Lightning II
Almost all types of UA missiles and bombs
Bombs and Missiles:
AIM-9X Sidewinder
AIM-120 AMRAAM
AIM-132 ASRAAM
AIM-260 JATM
MBDA Meteor
AGM-88G AARGM-ER
AGM-158 JASSM
AGM-179 JAGM
SPEAR 3
AGM-158C LRASM
AGM-154 JSOW
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb
GBU-53/B StormBreaker
B61 mod 12
F-16 Fighting Falcon
Selective types of UA missiles and bombs
Rockets:
LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods
LAU-5003 rocket pods
LAU-10 rocket pods
Missiles:
Air-to-air missiles:
AIM-9 Sidewinder
AIM-120 AMRAAM
IRIS-T
Python-4
Python-5
Air-to-surface missiles:
AGM-65 Maverick
AGM-88 HARM
AGM-158 JASSM (JASSM)
AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW)
Anti-ship missiles:
AGM-84 Harpoon
AGM-119 Penguin
Joint Strike Missile
Bombs:
CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
CBU-89 Gator mine
CBU-97 Sensor-Fuzed Weapon
Mark 84 general-purpose bombs
Mark 83 GP bombs
Mark 82 GP bombs
GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB)
GBU-10 Paveway II
GBU-12 Paveway II
GBU-24 Paveway III
GBU-27 Paveway III
Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) series
Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser (WCMD)
B61 nuclear bomb
B83 nuclear bomb
Other Bombs and Missiles:
ADM-160 MALD
SUU-42A/A flares/infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod
AN/ALQ-131 & AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods on centerline
LANTIRN, Lockheed Martin Sniper XR & Litening targeting pods
AN/ASQ-213 HARM targeting system (HTS) Pod (typically configured on station 5L with Sniper XR pod on station 5R)
Up to 3 × 300/330/370/600 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight/extended range/loitering time
UTC Aerospace DB-110 long-range EO/IR sensor pod on the centerline
Avionics Comparison of f-35 vs f-16
F-35 Lightning II
AN/APG-81 AESA radar
AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System
AN/AAQ-37 Electro-Optical Distributed Aperture System
AN/ASQ-239 Barracuda electronic warfare/electronic countermeasures system
AN/ASQ-242 CNI suite
F-16 Fighting Falcon
AN/APG-83 / AN/APG-68 radar (depends on aircraft variant).
The AN/APG-68 radar is being replaced on many US Air Force F-16C/D Block 40/42 and 50/52 aircraft by the AN/APG-83 AESA radar.
AN/ALR-56M radar warning receiver, being replaced on US Air Force F-16C/D Block 40/42 and 50/52 by AN/ALR-69A(V)
AN/ALQ-213 electronic warfare suite, being replaced on US Air Force F-16C/D Block 40/42 and 50/52 by AN/ALQ-257
MIL-STD-1553 bus
Final Conclusion on f-35 vs f-16
Both the F-16 and the F-35 are formidable aircraft, yet they have different uses. The fifth generation stealth fighter, the F-35 Lightning II, offers a complete perspective of the battlefield and is built for stealth and superior sensor fusion. It communicates information with other aircraft, boosting situational awareness and coordinated strikes. As a fourth-generation fighter with a proven combat experience and track record, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is not stealthy but rather incredibly nimble and maneuverable. The budget and unique requirements of the air force will determine which option is best. Certain air forces even combine the capabilities of the two aircraft.
You can check out the fighters F-22 Raptor, Sukhoi Su-57, F-35 Lightning II, TF-X KAAN, KAI KF-21 Boramae and Chengdu J-20.
We have compared this Sukhoi Su-57 vs F-35 Fighter jet, f-22 vs su-57, f-22 vs j-20, kf-21 Boramae vs tf-x KAAN, f-22 Raptor VS kf-21 Boramae, F-22 Raptor VS TAI TF-X KAAN, f-16 vs tf-x, f-35 vs f-16 and America vs Russia military power comparison 2024. If you are interested in the military, you can check it out by clicking here
If you want to go to the site of the American Air Force to confirm about the US Fighter, then click here
Take a look at the f-35 vs f-16 on video.
FAQ
F-35 can carry which kind of missile?
F-35 can carry almost all types of UA missiles and bombs.
Can f-16 dominate f-35?
The f-35 vs f-16, face challenges in determining their dominance due to their varying goals, timelines, and strengths, while uncertainties like delays and technical challenges could impact their actual capabilities.
Who is faster in f-35 vs f-16?
Here the f-35 has a speed of 965.6 km/h and f-16 has a speed of 1160 km/h. So here we can see that the f-16 is faster than f-35.But in the latest version of f-35 it may be upgraded and hopefully, f-35’s max speed will be more then f-16.
What engines are in the f-35 vs f-16?
f-35 has one F135-PW-100 engines and f-16 has one F110-GE-129 engines. Both engines are very powerful to perform a fight.
What generation are the f-35 and f-16?
The f-35 and f-16 are fighter jets with varying generational classifications. The f-16 is a 4+th generation fighter jet, mostly 4th generation features. The f-35, on the other hand, aims for true 5th generation status.
