The winner of the US Air Force LWF (Light Weight Fighter) competition in 1974, the General Dynamics F-16 was originally intended as an austere yet agile fighter to complement the more expensive F-15 Eagle in a high/low technology fighter mix. The USAF had concluded that despite the use of long-range missiles, most future air combats would come down to close-combat range where high maneuverability would be critical and sheer numbers would count. The Fighting Falcon combines CCV (control-configured vehicle) technology and quadruplex fly-by-wire signaling (saving an enormous amount of weight by eliminating hydraulics) with an extremely high thrust-to-weight ratio. It pioneered the use of a 'side stick' for control, and all combat controls are located either on the stick or the throttle. It also sports a reclined seat that increases the pilot's resistance to extreme g forces. Used by US and NATO and others since 1979, the F-16A lacks the ability to carry radar-guided missiles which is a detriment to its all-weather capability (but is one reason it was relatively cheap to produce).
