Even more countries are preparing to receive the F-16 Fighting Falcon, demonstrating the worldwide alliance-building capabilities of a jet that has long been sought for its adaptability, cost efficiency and track record.

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is the world's most widely operated multirole fighter jet because of its superior maneuverability, offensive capabilities and proven combat success.

It has been a cornerstone of air forces worldwide for more than four decades as a relatively cost-efficient, high-performance weapon system.

Initially developed in the 1970s, the F-16 has evolved to meet the changing demands of aerial combat.

It was designed as a lightweight, multirole fighter with a focus on air superiority as an alternative to increasingly heavy and cumbersome fighter aircraft.

Over the years, the F-16 has undergone numerous upgrades and variants, ensuring its relevance in the face of emerging threats. It is agile in air-to-air fighting, ground attack and electronic warfare.

It is one of the most versatile aircraft in the US Air Force and has flown thousands of sorties. It can fly more than 805km, deliver weapons with superior accuracy and defend against enemy aircraft, according to the US Air Force.

US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons in particular can launch the Joint Air-to Surface Standby Missile - Extended Range (JASSM-ER), a low detection, air-launched cruise missile with a range of 920km.

Alliance builder

The F-16's enduring legacy, marked by decades of service and continual evolution, showcases the adaptability and resilience of this iconic fighter jet.

More than 3,100 F-16s are flying in 27 countries, according to its manufacturer. International users range from Chile to Singapore to Middle Eastern nations including Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq and Jordan.

After Türkiye and Israel, Egypt operates the largest F-16 fleet in the region.

At one point, the US Air Force planned to end production of the F-16 by 2017 but ultimately opted to extend the life of the aircraft. Orders in 2019 by Bahrain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan and Morocco spurred further aircraft production.

Bahrain was the first F-16 operator in the Gulf Cooperation Council beginning in the early 1990s, and it became the first to receive the new F-16 Block 70 in 2023.

In total, six countries have selected the newest Block 70/72 aircraft.

The Block 70/72 comes with the APG-83 active electronically scanned array (AESA), which leverages hardware and software commonality with F-22 and F-35 AESA radars, according to its manufacturer.

It also is equipped with a new, high resolution Center Pedestal Display (CPD), which provides critical tactical imagery to pilots and allows them to take full advantage of AESA and targeting pod data.