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Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
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Author:  The_Sprinklez [ March 25th, 2024, 11:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
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Welcome to the first post of Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were. In this thread, I hope to catalog the vast number of potential F-16 Fighting Falcon operators that never were. This includes proposals that were declined by the operating nation, requests by an operating nation that were declined by the US or partner nations, and other similar situations.


Links to Posts:
Part I - Europe: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11013#p211023
Part II - Middle East: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11013#p211063
Part III - Africa and Oceania: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11013#p211069

Argentina: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11013#p211029
Ukraine: viewtopic.php?f=27&t=11013#p211023


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We start our tour in Europe, where we see the largest number of potential operators in a single continent (8).

Austria - As part of their program to replace the Saab Draken, Austria looked into purchasing F-16s. Initially offered new-built F-16C/Ds, the offer was later changed to 30 F-16A/Bs with the Mid-Life Update (MLU) modification completed. The package was to include additional engines, radars, etc. as well as targeting pods and ECM pods. Ultimately the decision was made in 2002 to purchase the Eurofighter Typhoon instead.

The two schemes drawn show a standard "Hill Grey" scheme, used by the USAF and EPAF nations, and a single-color scheme based on Austria's Eurofighters. The aircraft are fitted with drogue chutes.


Bosnia and Herzegovina - Very little information about this proposal exists, except that it would include the F-16A/B Block 15s intended for Pakistan before embargo. Aircraft chosen would go through the Mid-Life Update program in order to extend their service life and increase capability. By Mid-1998, the plans had ground to a halt and no serious attempts to transfer fighter to Bosnia and Herzegovina were ever pursued.

The aircraft shown is depicted in a scheme derived from J-22 Oraos operated by the Republika Srpska in the early 2000s. Without other comparable aircraft in Bosnian inventory, it's nearly impossible to know how these aircraft would have actually looked.


Croatia - As part of their program to replace the aging MiG-21bis, the Croatian Air Force looked into purchasing several types of aircraft, including F-16s. The F-16 was selected as their preferred choice (alongside the JAS 39 Gripen), beating out the KAI T-50. In March 2018, the Croatian government voted unanimously to purchase 12 F-16C/D Block 30 Barak aircraft from Israel at a total price of 420 million Euro. Included in the price was the aircraft, two simulators, training, weapons, spare parts, and ground support. The first two jets were expected to be delivered by 2020, with the last by 2022. On 6 December 2018, the US Government halted the deal citing Israeli refusal to honor US arms transfer guidelines by returning the aircraft to their factory condition before sale. Permission was given on 27 December to continue the purchase on the condition that the Israeli modifications were stripped before transfer, but this was unsatisfactory to Croatia and the deal fell through. The Dassault Rafale was eventually chosen instead, beating out new F-16Vs, Gripens, and the same Israeli deal (sans modifications).

The aircraft depicted is wearing the scheme applied to Croatia's Rafales, with single-tone grey paint and checkerboard tail markings.


Czechia - Around 2000, the Czech Republic undertook a program to update their fighter force with Western equipment following their admission to NATO. On 2 October 2003, the Czech Republic requested a possible sale of 12 F-16A Block 15 ADF (Air Defense Fighter)s and two F-16B Block 10OCU aircraft, as well as two F-16A Block 10OCUs for cannibalization and 16 spare engines. The total cost of this package was estimated at $650 million USD. In the end, Czechia decided to purchase the Saab JAS-39 Gripen instead.

The aircraft drawn is depicted in the standard Hill Grey scheme with the 100th Anniversary of the Czech Air Force scheme as applied to the Gripen in our timeline.



Finland - In February 1990, the Finnish Air Force put out a tender for a single-engine interceptor to replace their Saab Drakens and Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s. Among the competitors were the MiG-29, Saab JAS-39 Gripen, Dassault Mirage 2000-5, and General Dynamics F-16. McDonnell Douglas proposed the F/A-18C/D in April 1991, and the Hornet was eventually chosen for reasons that were not clear until documents were declassified in 2017. Based on the timeline of a potential F-16 purchase, it is likely such a purchase would be for the Block 50 variant.

The single aircraft depicted wears the post-1994 two-tone variant of Hill Grey with subtle Finnish markings. The tail number prefix, FN meaning FalcoN, carries on the Finnish tradition of deriving codes from the names of the aircraft (DK for Draken, HN for Hornet, etc.).


Hungary - Like Czechia, Hungary launched a tender for new aircraft to replace their MiG-21s in 1997 and saw proposals for the Rafale, Gripen, and F-16. Two F-16 proposals were made, one from Israel which sought to upgrade 24 ex-USAF F-16s in a manner similar to their own aircraft, and one from Lockheed Martin themselves which sought to upgrade the same aircraft with the MLU upgrade package. In the end, no new aircraft were purchased with an option to lease Gripens from Sweden exercised instead.

This aircraft is depicted in the standard Hill Grey scheme with Hungarian markings as applied to their Gripens.


Slovenia - Around the same time proposals were being made to Bosnia and Herzegovina, discussions were underway to transfer a full squadron of ex-Dutch F-16As (without MLU upgrade) to the Slovenian Air Force. It was reported that similar proposals for the IAI Kfir and Saab JAS-39 Gripen were heard, but in the end no aircraft were transferred, likely due to the prohibitive cost. Slovenia has not operated fast jets since, instead operating a small fleet of Pilatus PC-9s in a dual training/light attack role.

The aircraft shown wears the same Hill Grey scheme with Slovenian roundel and flag. It is an ex-RNLAF aircraft, previously J-239.


Spain - Spain heard two separate proposals for the F-16, the first of which was during the selection process that lead to the adoption of the F/A-18 in 1979. For this purpose, a Dutch F-16B was sent to Torrejon AB and Spanish pilots test flew the aircraft. According to third-party accounts, the Spanish Air Force actually preferred the F-16 but pressure from the US Navy led to the purchase of the F/A-18 instead.

In 1995, the USAF again offered the F-16 to Spain as a stopgap while they waited for the Eurofighter Typhoon, but the Spanish government instead chose to purchase 24 ex-US Navy F/A-18s in order to maintain a common type.

Two aircraft are depicted here, the first being from the 1979 proposal and the second from the 1995 proposal. Both wear the standard Hill Grey scheme, though the first aircraft is shown in a Tiger Meet scheme that was applied to an EF-18 in our timeline.


Switzerland - As a part of the program that led to the purchase of the F/A-18 Hornet, the Swiss Air Force also examined the F-16C/D. A report by the Swiss Air Force notes that the F-16 was the cheapest option available, after the withdrawal of the Lavi and F-20 from the selection program, but that the modifications necessary to allow for operation from high-altitude Swiss airfields and the necessity of safely storing the Hydrazine used in the EPU were prohibitive. They were also concerned with the capabilities of the radar compared to the F/A-18, as well as the fact that (at the time) the USAF was winding down production and they weren't sure if the line would stay open. Thus, in our timeline, the F/A-18 was chosen.

The aircraft shown is an F-16C Block 50, which would have been the current variant in production as of the early 1990s. Like the other schemes, it wears the typical USAF Hill Grey scheme (this time in the later two-tone variant) with Swiss markings, in this case a special scheme for Fliegerstaffel 17.



United Kingdom - As delays for the Tornado ADV program mounted in the late 1970s, the Royal Air Force examined potential alternatives that would be available sooner and cheaper. Among the options examined were the F-14, F-15, and F-16, all of which were rejected for various reasons. The F-14 was deemed the best fit but was too expensive, the F-15 was not capable enough as an interceptor for the RAF's needs (due to the lack of radar controls for the backseater), and the F-16 was too small and had the same issues as the F-15 several times over.

The two aircraft depicted wear the overall grey scheme of RAF interceptors, with the first aircraft being an F-16A Block 15 and the second an F-16BM Block 20 MLU. Information on which particular blocks were examined is nonexistent, but based on dates and capabilities I assumed an initial purchase of Block 15s later converted to the MLU standard alongside European partner nations.

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As a part of this project, I also drew an ex-Danish F-16AM and an ex-Dutch in Ukrainian service. However, because the rest of the sheet shows aircraft that were never adopted, I chose to omit them. Instead, I'm posting them as a separate drawing under the heading of "Future Operator." Perhaps in a few months we shall see how close I got to the real appearance of these aircraft.

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Part II will release soon, so stay tuned.
Author:  heuhen [ March 26th, 2024, 4:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
there was a new's article here in Norway, just a few days ago. Saying Norwegian F16 will fly under Ukrainian flag, as early as this summer, at the earliest.
Author:  Ultraking101 [ March 26th, 2024, 5:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
Argentina - Argentinian Defense Minister Luis Petri is set to meet any day now with Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen regarding the 24x F-16A/B Block 20 MLU aircraft offer. Sprinks let me partake in this project for F-16s around the world. Much like the Ukrainian F-16 posted, given the likelihood that Argentina will acquire the F-16s in the near future and the true details of how it looks will be revealed. The current additional details known are that they are set to have AIM-9X and AIM-120D and will be based at Tandil AFB.
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Author:  Glorfindel [ March 27th, 2024, 10:25 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
Nice drawings

Switzerland considered to buy a new fighter in the late 1980s. In the race were the F-16, the F/A-18 and the Gripen. In the end the F-16 did not make the race and the swiss army ordered the F/A-18.
Author:  The_Sprinklez [ March 27th, 2024, 2:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
Glorfindel wrote: *March 27th, 2024, 10:25 am
Switzerland considered to buy a new fighter in the late 1980s. In the race were the F-16, the F/A-18 and the Gripen. In the end the F-16 did not make the race and the swiss army ordered the F/A-18.
Added!
Author:  The_Sprinklez [ March 29th, 2024, 12:37 am ]
Post subject:  Forgotten Foreign Falcons Part II - Middle Eastern Operators
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Our next stop is the Middle East, where we have a measly two operators to examine.

First, Iran - An early F-16 customer (and the first outside of the European Partner Air Forces), Iran signed a Letter of Intent to purchase 160 F-16A/Bs with an option for 140 more in October 1976. However, due to the Iranian Revolution of 1979, these plans fell through and drove the unit cost of the F-16 sharply upwards. Before the Revolution, parts and ground service equipment had already began arriving in Iran and ground crews were already undergoing training. The aircraft originally intended for Iran, which by 1979 were already in production, mostly ended up being sold to Israel and remaining ground support equipment ended up in Pakistan.

Two Iranian examples are included, one showing the Imperial livery (circa 1978) and one showing the Islamic Republic livery. Both wear the standard Iranian camouflage scheme, as was present on period promotional images.



Saudi Arabia - The only other Middle Eastern customer that ended up not operating the type, Saudi Arabia reported in February 1997 their consideration of a purchase of 70 to 100 F-16s to replace their F-5s. It was reported at the time that the F-16E/F Block 60, then in development for the United Arab Emirates, was their main interest. The deal, valued at $5-6 billion USD, also included the AIM-120 AMRAAM. However, due to a tense political situation between Saudi Arabia and the United States at this time, the deal fell through. Saudi Arabia eventually purchased the Eurofighter Typhoon to fulfill a similar role.

The aircraft depicted wears a camouflage scheme based on Saudi Arabia's Eurofighters, which itself appears to be derived from the F-15's "Compass Ghost" scheme.

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Part III coming soon.
Author:  Skibud1998 [ March 29th, 2024, 11:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
Seriously nice drawings, love the cockpit detail the most!
Author:  The_Sprinklez [ March 30th, 2024, 12:00 am ]
Post subject:  Forgotten Foreign Falcons Part III - African and Oceanian Operators
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Stop three is a double, with Africa and Oceania combined. This is because Africa comprises South Africa only, while Oceania is just Australia and New Zealand.



Australia - When the Australian Mirage III replacement program resumed in 1975, eleven proposals were received from various manufacturers. Among these were the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, Dassault Mirage 2000, Panavia Tornado, McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A, Northrop F-18L, and General Dynamics F-16A/B. The F-15 and Tornado were both quickly removed, and the list had narrowed to just the F/A-18A and F-16 by 1979. The F-16 was initially disregarded due to concerns over engine reliability, radar capabilities, lack of BVR AAM and ASM capability, and technological immaturity. The F/A-18A, however, impressed the evaluation team and were the preference of the evaluators. The decision, however, was postponed until late-1981 on the RAAF's recommendation (noting that both aircraft were still too immature to make a decision) by which time the superior F-16C was under development. Unlike the F-16A, the F-16C met many of the RAAF's requirements and was found to be the less expensive choice overall, with most of the deficiencies previously noted having been resolved. In the end, however, the F/A-18 was still chosen as it was deemed easier to maintain and more technologically mature.

Three aircraft are depicted, all the Block 25 variety (the first production F-16C variant). The first aircraft wears a standard Hill Grey scheme with Australian markings, while the second wears a modified single-color variant closer to the early F/A-18 scheme used by the RAAF. Lastly, the third aircraft wears a modified version of a real anniversary scheme worn by a 77 Squadron F/A-18 over the single-color scheme from aircraft two.



New Zealand - Of the operators covered so far, New Zealand's bid for the Falcon was by far the closest to fruition. After identifying a need to replace their aging A-4K Skyhawks, the New Zealand Government announced that they would lease-buy the 28 ex-Pakistani F-16A/B Block 15s that were then stored at AMARC. As these aircraft had essentially zero hours on them and were some of the last F-16A/Bs built, they were perfect candidates. The aircraft were inspected and even assigned local tail numbers by the RNZAF, but following the general election the new government cancelled the transfer altogether. No 2 and No 75 Squadrons, as well as No 14 Squadron (flying the Aermacchi MB-339), were disbanded leaving New Zealand without air combat capability. No subsequent purchase attempts for the F-16 or any other fighter aircraft were pursued, and the RNZAF is without combat capability to this day.

Two aircraft are depicted, the first in the overall green of the RNZAF's A-4s and the second in an all-grey scheme derived from the RNZAF's current scheme.



South Africa - In the late-1990s, the SAAF was looking to purchase approximately 30 fighters to replace their Atlas Cheetahs. The US was rumored in early 1998 to be proposing a shipment of ex-USAF F-16A/Bs, which had been recently retired from USAF service, for South Africa. Unfortunately by early 1999 it was clear that the South African Air Force preferred the Saab JAS-39 Gripen, and the purchase order was signed soon after for 26 aircraft.

The aircraft depicted is an ex-USAF F-16A Block 15OCU (Operational Capability Upgrade), wearing a scheme derived from the scheme worn by both the Cheetah and Gripen.

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Author:  Hood [ March 30th, 2024, 8:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Forgotten Foreign Falcons - F-16 Export Operators that Never Were
Fantastic work, some really lovely colour schemes depicted on these F-16s.
Author:  The_Sprinklez [ April 5th, 2024, 7:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Forgotten Foreign Falcons Part IV - South American Operators
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For our second to last stop, we visit South America where we have three operators (excluding Argentina covered by Ultraking101 previously) to cover.


Brazil - When the Brazilian Air Force restarted their F-X2 Project in 2006, they sought information from Lockheed Martin about their F-35 Lightning II as a potential competitor. Instead, Lockheed Martin presented a new variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon based on the F-16E/F Block 60 they had designed for the UAE. Dubbed F-16BR, the Lockheed Martin proposal was dropped from the running by October 2008 with the Saab Gripen E/NG, Dassault Rafale, and Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet becoming the frontrunners. Eventually, the Saab Gripen was chosen to meet this requirement. Very little of the F-16BR is known aside from the Block 60 ties, likely due to its quick removal from the program.

The aircraft drawn is a two-seat model (based on the F-16F), equipped with the enlarged spine and CFTs of the Block 60. It wears the two-tone green and grey scheme also seen on Brazil's F-5s and AMXs.



Colombia - As recently as last year, Colombia was in talks to purchase new aircraft replacing their IAI Kfirs. A proposal was made by Lockheed Martin in May 2023 for 24 new-build F-16V Block 70 Vipers at a cost of $4.2 billion USD. An alternative proposal for 16 aircraft was also made, at a cost of $3.1 billion. However, due to budget concerns, acceptance of the proposal (which was expected by the end of June 2023) never happened. It is currently unknown whether Colombia will go through with the purchase.

Depicted is an F-16V in a modified version of the USAF-standard Hill Grey scheme (with a unique FS 36118 Medium Gunship Grey spine) as shown on a display model produced to help sell the aircraft.



Ecuador - Two proposals regarding Ecuadorian F-16s are known to have been made. The first, circa 1998 or 1999, is virtually undocumented and was likely purely hypothetical. The second proposal, circa 2008, was better documented but still has little information. An blog post from 2020 discussing the purchase (the only real source available) describes the aircraft proposed as "F-16 C/D Block 50 Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU)." MLU corresponds to F-16A/Bs upgraded to standards close to the C/D Block 50 standards and not the Block 50s themselves. After discussing the purchase with South American defense analysts, I can say with relative certainty that the proposed aircraft were likely the F-16AM/BM Block 20 MLU variants and not F-16C/D Block 50s. Ultimately, likely due to a combination of regional policy (on the US' part) and Ecuadorian budgetary concerns, the purchase did not occur.

The aircraft shown is a Block 20 MLU in the scheme worn by Ecuador's Kfirs in the mid-2000s. It carries the Israeli-made Python 5 missile, which was first delivered to Ecuador in 2001.

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That's all for this installment! The final sheet, Asia, is coming soon so keep an eye out for that.

A Note: Canada, while also a never-were F-16 customer, is not included in my portion of this series as it is being covered by fellow SB-er Deadright as a part of a series on Canadian never-weres.
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