US Air Force F-16s are set to play a key role in deterring Iranian aggression in the Strait of Hormuz.

The Pentagon announced July 17 that it was deploying the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner as well as F-35 and F-16 warplanes to the Middle East to deter Iran from seizing ships in the Gulf.

"In response to a number of recent, alarming events in the Strait of Hormuz, the secretary of defence has ordered the deployment... to the US Central Command [CENTCOM] area of responsibility to defend US interests and safeguard freedom of navigation in the region," said Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh during a briefing.

The assets were set to join A-10 attack aircraft that had been present for nearly two weeks before the latest announcement.

The recent move came after the Iranian navy tried to seize two merchant vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman in July, in one incident opening fire at one of the vessels.

US forces on July 5 prevented the two vessels from being seized by the Iranian military in international waters near the coast of Oman.

One of those ships, the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker TRF Moss, was approached by an Iranian naval vessel, but the vessel departed after the arrival of the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS McFaul.

The Bahamian-flagged oil tanker Richmond Voyager was approached the same day by an Iranian naval vessel that got within one mile of it and fired on it using small arms and crew-served weapons, the Pentagon said.

The Iranian vessel departed when the USS McFaul arrived on the scene.

Iran has attacked or seized about 20 merchant vessels since 2021, according to CENTCOM.

Lethal and versatile

In an air combat role, the F-16's manoeuvrability and combat radius exceed that of all potential threat fighter aircraft, according to a US Air Force fact sheet.

"In an air-to-surface role, the F-16 can fly more than 500 miles (860km), deliver its weapons with superior accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft, and return to its starting point," it adds.

An all-weather capability allows the F-16 to accurately deliver ordnance during non-visual bombing conditions.

The F-16 is also equipped with the Link 16 system, which allows it to communicate with other assets -- such as artillery, naval vessels or other aircraft -- in engaging targets.

Link 16 at its core is a communication system for transmitting and exchanging real-time tactical data among the US military, NATO and other allies.

It provides a secure, jam-resistant, high-speed digital data link that operates at radio and microwave frequencies.

The network enables a range of platforms, including aircraft, surface ships, ground vehicles, missile defence systems, networked weapons and command-and-control networks, to exchange text, imagery and digital voice messages.

In addition, Link 16 provides relative navigation capability and precise participant location and identification, according to BAE Systems.

World's most popular fighter jet

The United States has produced more than 4,600 F-16s since production was approved in 1976, making it the most flown fighter aircraft around the world.

The fighter represents part of the US military's global reach and ability to respond to adversary aggression.

US Air Force F-16 fighters were deployed to the Persian Gulf in 1991 in support of Operation Desert Storm, where more sorties were flown than with any other aircraft.

The fighters were used to attack airfields, military production facilities, Scud missiles sites and a variety of other targets.