Aircraft & UAVs

F-16C Barak

Also known as
  • F-16C Barak 1
  • Barak 1
  • Israeli F-16C
  • IAF F-16C Barak

The F-16C Barak is Israel's locally designated single-seat F-16C, combining the U.S.-designed Fighting Falcon airframe with Israeli service modifications and weapons integration. Public sources identify the F-16C Barak 1 fleet as an Israeli Air Force branch delivered from 1986 and retired in 2024, with direct model-specific evidence covering a Python-5 UAV interception in the 2006 Lebanon War and strike sorties during the 2023 Israel-Hamas War.

F-16C Barak, Single-seat multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Israeli F-16C takes off from Ovda Airport in November 2013

Role in Conflicts

2006 Lebanon War
Air Defense
Side
Israel

F-16.net mission-marking data records Israeli F-16C 364 shooting down a Hezbollah UAV off Israel's coast on 2006-08-07, described as the first combat kill for the Python-5 missile.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States / Israel
Type
Single-seat multirole fighter aircraft
Service note
Entered Israeli service in 1986; F-16C Barak 1 fleet retired in July 2024
Designer
General Dynamics
Designed
F-16C/D development from the early 1980s; Israeli Barak service from 1986
Produced
Israeli F-16C deliveries began in 1986; F-16C Barak 1 retired from IAF service on 2024-07-16
Number built
81 F-16C Barak 1 aircraft delivered to Israel
Developed from
F-16C Fighting Falcon

Specifications

Crew
One pilot in the F-16C cockpit
Powerplant
One Pratt & Whitney F100 or General Electric F110 turbofan, depending on aircraft block and operator configuration
Maximum speed
About 1,500 mph, Mach 2 at altitude for the F-16C/D family
Range
More than 2,002 miles ferry range for baseline F-16C/D data
Service ceiling
Above 50,000 feet
Armament
One M61A1 20 mm cannon; external stations for air-to-air missiles, air-to-ground munitions, fuel tanks, and electronic countermeasure pods
Israeli Barak fleet
F-16C Barak 1 entered IAF service in 1986, with 81 delivered and the fleet retired on 2024-07-16
Documented 2006 air-to-air weapon
F-16.net records F-16C 364 shooting down a Hezbollah UAV with a Python-5 missile on 2006-08-07
Documented 2023 Gaza loadouts
Open-source analysis showed IAF F-16C Barak aircraft with GBU-31(V)1 JDAM-class bombs and also reported F-16s carrying M117 general-purpose bombs
Israeli Barak Configuration

Barak is the Israeli service name attached to customized F-16C/D aircraft rather than a separate clean-sheet airframe. Published fleet notes describe Israeli F-16C aircraft with local electronics and external differences such as a vertical-stabilizer base extension, while U.S. Air Force material supplies the baseline F-16C/D performance and armament envelope.

Single-seat branch

The F-16C Barak 1 was Israel's single-seat F-16C designation; 81 examples were delivered and retired in July 2024.

Israeli modifications

Specialist fleet reporting describes Israeli F-16s as fitted with custom Israeli electronics and local weapons such as Python, Popeye, and Spice families.

Combat-source limit

This page uses direct F-16C evidence for a 2006 Hezbollah UAV interception and a 2023 Gaza strike sortie; broader Israeli F-16 combat history remains on the family page unless a source isolates the Barak model.

Variants

Israeli sources and reporting use Barak for customized F-16C/D aircraft, with Barak 1 used for the F-16C fleet retired in 2024 and Brakeet used for remaining two-seat F-16D aircraft.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
F-16 Fighting Falcon, Multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsF-16 Fighting FalconParent F-16 family record

The broader F-16 catalog page covers the U.S.-designed family across F-16A/B/C/D, MLU, F-16I, and later F-16V branches.

Sources: F-16 Fighting Falcon Fact Sheet

F-16C Barak 1Israeli single-seat F-16C designation

European Security & Defence reports that Israel called its F-16C fleet Barak 1 and retired that fleet on 2024-07-16.

Sources: Israeli Air Force retires its fleet of F-16C Barak 1 fighters

F-16D Barak, Two-seat multirole fighter aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsF-16D BarakTwo-seat Israeli F-16D counterpart

The separate F-16D Barak record covers the two-seat Israeli Barak branch that remained in service after the F-16C Barak 1 retirement.

Sources: Israel F-16.net user profile, Israeli Air Force retires its fleet of F-16C Barak 1 fighters

Air-to-air Weapon Documented in 2006

Mission-marking data ties one Israeli F-16C Barak air-to-air engagement in the 2006 Lebanon War to Rafael's Python-5 missile.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
Python-5 air-to-air missile, Fifth-generation dual-use air-to-air and air-defense missile, MunitionsPython-5 air-to-air missileImaging-infrared air-to-air missile

F-16.net records F-16C 364 shooting down a Hezbollah UAV with Python-5 on 2006-08-07, identifying the event as the missile's first combat kill.

Sources: F-16.net IDFAF Mission Marks, Hobby Master F-16D Barak 074

Carried Munitions Documented in 2023 Imagery

Open-source analysis of October 2023 Israeli Air Force media identified F-16C Barak strike configurations with heavy air-to-ground stores during the Gaza campaign.

Carried itemItem typeCarriage evidence
GBU-31(V)1 Joint Direct Attack Munition, 2,000-pound JDAM bomb, MunitionsGBU-31(V)1 Joint Direct Attack Munition2,000-pound GPS-aided guided bomb

The Aviationist identified an IAF F-16C departing on a combat sortie with GBU-31(V)1 JDAM-class bombs visible under the wing.

Sources: Configuration and Payload of the Aircraft Employed by Israel in the Fight Against Hamas

M117 750-pound unguided bomb, 750-pound unguided general-purpose bomb, MunitionsM117 750-pound unguided bomb750-pound general-purpose bomb

The same analysis reported Israeli F-16s shown carrying four M117 general-purpose bombs during the Gaza air campaign, while noting public strike videos did not always identify the exact bomb used at impact.

Sources: Configuration and Payload of the Aircraft Employed by Israel in the Fight Against Hamas

Timeline

F-16C Barak Key Events

  1. Barak 1 enters IAF service

    Israel's F-16C Barak 1 fleet entered Israeli Air Force service, beginning an 81-aircraft branch of the Israeli F-16 force.

    Sources: Israeli Air Force retires its fleet of F-16C Barak 1 fighters

  2. First reported IDF/AF F-16C combat activity

    F-16.net records the first IDF/AF F-16C combat activity as a strike against bases south of Beirut, with the aircraft described in the same account as Barak.

    Sources: Israel F-16.net user profile

  3. F-16C 364 scores Python-5 UAV kill

    F-16.net records Israeli F-16C 364 shooting down a Hezbollah UAV off the coast of Israel during the 2006 Lebanon War, marking an early combat use of the Python-5 missile.

    Sources: F-16.net IDFAF Mission Marks, Hobby Master F-16D Barak 074

  4. Barak aircraft documented in Gaza campaign analysis

    The Aviationist identified IAF F-16C/D Barak aircraft among Israeli fighters active in the Gaza air campaign and described an IAF F-16C departing on a combat sortie with GBU-31-class JDAMs.

    Sources: Configuration and Payload of the Aircraft Employed by Israel in the Fight Against Hamas

  5. F-16C Barak 1 retired

    The Israeli Air Force retired its F-16C Barak 1 fleet as F-35I Adir service expanded, while F-16I Sufa and F-16D Brakeet aircraft remained in service.

    Sources: Israeli Air Force retires its fleet of F-16C Barak 1 fighters

Media

F-16C Barak Videos

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Sources

Israeli Air Force retires its fleet of F-16C Barak 1 fightersPublisher: European Security & Defence | Note: Supports the F-16C Barak 1 designation, Israeli service entry, 81-aircraft delivery count, 2024 retirement date, and distinction from F-16D Brakeet and F-16I Sufa aircraft. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Configuration and Payload of the Aircraft Employed by Israel in the Fight Against HamasPublisher: The Aviationist | Note: Supports 2023 Israel-Hamas War direct use by identifying IAF F-16C/D Barak aircraft in the Gaza air campaign and an IAF F-16C departing on a combat sortie with GBU-31-class JDAMs. | Accessed: 2026-07-13F-16 Fighting Falcon Fact SheetPublisher: U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports baseline F-16C/D mission, crew, powerplant, dimensions, speed, range, ceiling, armament, and Lockheed Martin contractor context. | Accessed: 2026-07-13F-16C Fighting FalconPublisher: Shaw Air Force Base / U.S. Air Force | Note: Supports F-16C role, multirole mission profile, all-weather strike capability, and Block 50/52 HARM and upgraded avionics context used as baseline F-16C comparison material. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Israel F-16.net user profilePublisher: F-16.net | Note: Supports Israeli F-16C/D Barak modification context, local electronics and weapons references, and historical first IDF/AF F-16C combat activity reporting. | Accessed: 2026-07-13F-16.net IDFAF Mission MarksPublisher: F-16.net | Note: Supports 2006 Lebanon War direct conflict-use by recording Israeli F-16C 364 shooting down a Hezbollah UAV off Israel's coast with a Python-5 missile on 2006-08-07. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Hobby Master F-16D Barak 074Publisher: Hobby Master Archive | Note: Supports 2006 Lebanon War direct conflict-use by identifying Israeli F-16C 364 and F-16D 074 as aircraft that shot down Hezbollah-operated UAVs with Python-5 missiles during the war. | Accessed: 2026-07-13Israeli F-16C takes off from Ovda Airport in November 2013Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for the primary Israeli F-16C Barak image; the file is a U.S. Air Force public-domain photograph. | Accessed: 2026-07-13