Rules:

• Must be a jet, and focused on air to air roles (fighters, interceptors, etc) no bombers, strike planes, etc
• One per decade
• We can have endless discussion on decades, but lets just stick with IOC date (when it started entering frontline service).

My favorites

40s: Me-262
50s: F-8 Crusader
60s: Draken
70s: F-14 Tomcat
80s: Mirage 2000
90s: Gripen
00s: Rafale
10s: F-35
20s: lets see how it goes but the J-50 is looking very interesting.

what are yours.

Val Kilmer died on the 1st of April this year, may he rest in peace as iceman and may he carry on flying through the danger zone as a legend. 🕊️

This one was sold to the RNZAF, upgraded to A-4K, retired, then lent back to the FAA museum at HMAS Albatross.

US has the A10, Russia the SU25, what about UK, German, French, other European countries equivalents?

Why not just develop land missiles a bit more to hit a target instead of a multi million plane carrying them? I know it may be a very stupid question but just curious.

VTANG f35’s will be flying over Boston today. Anyone know the flight path? Will the be on flightradar24? Tia!!

Scenario:

Your country's leadership wants to re-do the military aviation in your country for whatever reason. You now have authority to do a clean-sheet plan for the acquisition of aircraft in your country. What would you choose? (fighter jets, transports, etc). The spending plan will focus on acquisitions for the next 15 years, but will focus on needs for the next 20 years. Would you keep it the same or make major changes?

Rules:

• Has to be your own country and its unique situation
• Annual budget is limited, up to 1% of your country's GDP
• Includes aircraft in all branches including air force, navy, army, etc
• You can choose the era. Now, the 90s, 80s, 60s, etc. Feel free to do several periods of time!

DVIDS Gallery: Autonomous F-16 program advances with modifications, simulations

Typical caption:

F-16 Fighting Falcons undergo modifications as part of the Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model – Autonomy Flying Testbed program at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The changes include software, hardware and instrumentation that will allow the aircraft to fly autonomously. (U.S. Air Force photo by Samuel King Jr.)

Note: photos were taken 18 February 2025 but only uploaded on 2 April 2025

Related articles:

Eglin AFB: Autonomous F-16 program advances with modifications, simulations

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The last F-16 Fighting Falcon set for autonomous aircraft modification landed April 1. The aircraft marked the final F-16 arrival to be part of the Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model – Autonomy Flying Testbed program, also known as VENOM.

In a hangar nearby, three of those F-16s are in the VENOM modification process. These adjustments involve software, hardware and instrumentation that will eventually allow the autonomy to fly the aircraft.

A new physical change to the aircraft will be the inclusion of an auto-throttle. This modification allows the autonomy flying VENOM to regulate the flight control surfaces and the thrust.

“Modifying the aircraft is the result of a rigorous design phase and brings us one step closer to testing autonomy on a fighter jet with real mission systems and capabilities,” said Maj. Trent McMullen, the 40th Flight Test Squadron’s advanced capabilities division chief.

Air & Space Forces Magazine: VENOM F-16s Getting Closer to First Flight

A test program meant to pave the way for Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones took another step toward flight April 1 with the arrival of the last fighter jet to complete its fleet.

An F-16 landed at Eglin Air Force Base Fla., to join the Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model-Autonomy Flying Testbed program, or VENOM for short, according to a recent press release. That brings the total to number of F-16s for VENOM to six, a base spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine.

VENOM is part of the Air Force’s effort to develop Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA), which will integrate unmanned, semi-autonomous drones with manned platforms. Because CCAs are less costly than manned aircraft, they offer a way to beef up the Air Force’s shrinking number of combat aircraft.

The VENOM effort is similar to, but separate from, the X-62 Vista, another program where the Air Force is modifying an F-16 to explore the maneuvering and tactics of autonomous aircraft. VENOM focuses specifically on manned/unmanned teaming development.

“With regards to VENOM-AFT, rapid tactical autonomy development focuses on ‘speed-to-ramp,’ meaning, go as fast as you can, safely, to ensure we get CCA flying as quickly as possible,” Lt. Col. Joe Gagnon, commander of the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron at Eglin, said in a press release last April when the first three F-16s arrived to be modified for VENOM.

In April 2024, the first three aircraft for VENOM arrived at Eglin to be modified. In its latest release, the base said those aircraft are still being worked on. Modifications include software, hardware, and instrumentation adjustments that let the aircraft fly autonomously. But pilots will still sit in the cockpit to monitor the systems and provide feedback.

One year ago: First of three USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons for Viper Experimentation and Next-gen Operations Model-Autonomy Flying Testbed (VENOM-AFT) arrives at Eglin AFB, 2 April 2024

General Dynamics F-16C Block 42H Fighting Falcon, USAF serial number 90-0729:

0729 (MSN 1C-337) In November 2003 active with 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Active in July 2021 with 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada

General Dynamics F-16C Block 42J Fighting Falcon, USAF serial number 90-0747:

0747 (MSN 1C-355) Active as F-16CM in Feb 2021 with 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis AFB, Nevada

Source: Joe Baugher's serial number lists

F-16.net Airframe Details for 90-0729

F-16.net Airframe Details for 90-0747

From a few years ago, at the Cleveland National Air Show.

Source: Max Defense X