General Dynamics F-16A J79
Published on October 23, 2017
The F-16/79 was a export-oriented version of the F-16A/B modified to use the General Electric J79 turbojet engine. Intended to satisfy President Jimmy Carter’s February 1977 directive to curtail arms proliferation by selling only reduced-capability weapons to foreign countries, the lack of interest in a second-class fighter led to neither the F-16/79 nor its competitor, Northrop F-20 Tigershark, achieving any sales. It first flew in October 1980.
