Navy F-16N

F-16N 163577 (AF 86-1695) in factory fresh markings at Luke AFB.

This aircraft was assigned to VF-45 and based at NAS Key West.

The F-16N program was instituted by the Navy for a replacement aircraft in an "Adversary" role. The aircraft were used by VF-43 at NAS Oceana, VF-45 at Key west, VF-126 at Miramar and of course, Topgun.

The F-16N (and TF-16N) were Block 30 aircraft with the NSI intake. The 20MM Vulcan cannon was deleted as well as the AME (alternate mission equipment) cababilities.

The original F-16A AN/APG-66 radar was used in place of the standard AN/APG-68.

Since the AME was deleted, the aircraft could not carry any underwing missile launchers. The Navy would carry captive AIM-9 missiles and an ACMI (Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation) datalink pod on station 1 and 9, but they could not carry the required AMD radar reflector pods, since there were no other launchers.

This led to the adaptation of the two small pods that were mounted to the intake sides for the radar reflectors.

After several years the Navy found cracks in the structure of the acft. Due to the fact that these were such a small batch of acft, and the cost of maintaining the acft, the Navy retired the F-16N program in the 1990's.