The Israeli Air Force (IAF) announced on 16 July 2024 that it has retired its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16C fighters.
The F-16C, known as the Barak 1 in Israel, first entered IAF service in 1986, with 81 examples of the aircraft ultimately delivered.
The F-16C is being retired as the IAF builds up its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, which are known as Adirs in IAF service.
Lockheed Martin announced on 4 June 2024 that the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s mission to the United States had officially signed a letter of offer and acceptance to acquire a third squadron of 25 F-35As, expanding the IAF’s F-35 fleet to 75 aircraft.
The IAF still operates the F-16I Sufa, of which 102 were delivered from 2004 (with around 97 believed to still be in service), while 47 F-16D Brakeet operational trainers of 54 aircraft delivered from 1986 also remain in service.
Ninety earlier F-16A/B Netz fighters were withdrawn back in December 2016.
