How F-35 Tech Turned The ‘Old’ F-16 Into A New Killer Jet

stlbeacon.org - 11/19/2025

Born in the 1970s, the F-16 should be aging out. Instead, a sweeping Service Life Extension Program and F-35–grade tech have effectively rebuilt the jet for modern war. Structural upgrades and new systems push service life toward 12,000 hours, while an AESA radar lets pilots track dozens of targets at far greater ranges. A revamped cockpit, added automation, and the F-16V’s high-def displays, new data bus, EW suite, and helmet cueing all sharpen lethality.

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