The F-16 Fighting Falcon was produced by General Dynamics who became Lockheed who then merged with Martin Marietta to become Lockheed Martin. The F-16 entered service in January 1979 as a multi-role jet fighter that evolved into an all-weather multi-role aircraft capable of sustaining 9-g turns. The F-16 is relatively inexpensive to purchase and maintain so the U.S. and 25 other countries added it to their inventory. The Fighting Falcon is referred to by its pilots as the “Viper” and will remain in USAF service until 2025.
In August 1990 TS-1601 serial 01 c/n 1B-1 U.S. serial 87-0721 was the first of four Lockheed F-16B’s to be delivered to the Tentara Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara (Indonesian Air Force) Skadron Udara 3 (3rd Squadron) "Sarang Naga" ("Dragon's Nest). The aircraft received its grey-green "millennium" color scheme in 2000 which was the new standard colors. On December 1, 2004 TS-1601 ran off the runway due to a brake failure with no injuries. In 2014 the Indonesian Air Force began to receive the first of twenty four F-16C/D’s.