General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon vs McDonnell Douglas F-18 Hornet – which one would win in an aerial battle? These two aircraft are among the most dependable and deadly in the US military’s arsenal, and they’ve helped win wars, defend ships and redefine the technological prowess that is American innovation.
Despite their similarities, the F-16 and F-18 have a number of differences, and it’s these that’ll reveal which aircraft is truly the most superior of the two.
History of the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-18 Hornet
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon, now manufactured by Lockheed Martin, was introduced in 1978. This multirole, air superiority fighter costs upwards of $14 million to produce, and its adaptability and speed make it an indispensable fixture of the Air Force.
Over 4,600 have been manufactured since 1973, with a number of countries (Pakistan, Chile, Belgium, etc.) operating the aircraft through such conflicts as Operation Desert Storm, the 1982 Lebanon War and the Soviet-Afghan War. The F-16’s combat success and popularity has resulted in the fighter becoming the world’s most numerous fixed-wing aircraft in active military service.
F-16 vs F-18 – Which has the better design?
Despite its earlier design, the F-16 Fighting Falcon is one of the most cost-effective, efficient and maneuverable aircraft in the Air Force’s arsenal. Thanks to the development of older aircraft, such as the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle and General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark, it’s equipped with reliable systems that give it a wide combat radius.
The F-16 was developed during the Lightweight Fighter (LWF) program as the YF-16. It can locate targets, regardless of weather conditions, and can fly more than 500 miles in an air-to-surface role. The aircraft can deliver weapons with extreme accuracy, all while defending itself from enemy action. It’s also the first to use the relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire (RSS/FBW) flight control system, giving it increased maneuverability and performance.
The cockpit of the F-16 was redesigned to include a bubble canopy, which gives pilots increased visibility through the side and rear. A side-stick controller was also implemented for better control while performing high-g missions. This feature includes hand pressure sensors that send electrical signals to the flight control systems, allowing for increased instantaneous changes while in a tense combat situation.
F-16 vs F-18 – Need for speed
Both the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-18 Hornet are capable of reaching incredible speeds. However, they do differ ever so slightly. The former can reach a top speed of Mach 2 – twice the speed of sound. The F-18, on the other hand, can only reach Mach 1.7-1.8.
The two also have different engines. The F-16 is a single-engine aircraft equipped with one of two types of power plants, either a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-200/220/229 or a General Electric F110-GE-100/129. These produce around 29,000 pounds of thrust. The F-18 is powered by two General Electric F404-GE-402 turbofan engines, which produce 17,750 pounds of thrust.
F-16 vs F18 – How do they fair in aerial combat?
Combat is where the F-16 Fight Falcon and F-18 Hornet truly take off. Both are capable of air-to-air, air-to-ground, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. Several slight differences help define this. The F-18 has a range of 1,253 miles, vs the F-16’s much higher 2,002 miles. The latter also has a higher ceiling of 55,000 feet, compared to the F-18’s 50,000 feet.
The F-16 can stay in the air for much longer without refueling. It’s also faster and more maneuverable, and can withstand higher g than the F-18. Its smaller size and bubble canopy cockpit provide increased visibility, a key factor in determining the outcome of a mission.
F-16 vs F-18 – How maneuverable are these advanced aircraft?
Speed and firepower are only half of what makes an aircraft successful in combat. The ability to maneuver through the air and around enemies and obstacles can make all the difference when pursuing – or outrunning – someone.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon can handle maneuvers of up to 9 g, giving it the ability to quickly change direction at incredible speeds and angles. During the design process, the engineers at General Dynamics selected a variable-camber wing with airfoil, which can be adjusted through the relaxed static stability/fly-by-wire flight control system.
F-16 vs F-18 – Firepower is where it’s at
Air Intercept Missiles (AIMs) are a key part of combat for modern aircraft, but the F-16 Fighting Falcon originally didn’t equip radar-guided missiles. It wasn’t until the Block 15 ADF variant was unveiled in 1986 that it was able to fire the AIM-7 Sparrow.
Other air-to-air missiles equipped by the F-16 include the AIM-9 Sidewinder, the MBDA R550 Magic 2, the Raytheon AMRAAM, and the MBDA Skyflash and ASRAAM. Ordnance is fired from nine hard points – three under each wing, one on each wing tip and another under the fuselage – and launched via LAU-88 launchers and MAU-12 and Orgen ejector racks.
Which is the better aircraft?
Despite their differences, the F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-18 Hornet are both cutting-edge, dependable and lethal. Some say it has less to do with the aircraft and everything to do with the pilots who fly them. One Air Force traffic controller shared his opinion on the best pilots in the military, telling SOFREP:
“[The Navy pilots] are very precise flyers. When they would come in on a landing approach they would be dead perfect on the glide path. I can’t remember ever telling any of those Navy guys to correct their rate of descent or speed. They would be flying PERFECTLY on it the whole time. […] They were just… better.”
Certain aircraft are also more suited to different scenarios. An F-16 would be a better choice for long-range missions that require more speed and maneuverability, while the F-18 would provide more firepower and offensive capabilities in a combat scenario. While the former was initially slated to be replaced by 2025, delays have resulted in it being guaranteed a further two decades of service. The F-18s are slated to be replaced at some point between 2025-30.