Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon vs Sukhoi Su-27
Full specs: Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon Sukhoi Su-27
Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon and Sukhoi Su-27 are both fighter aircraft, compared here on public specifications. The Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon leads on weapons payload (7,700 vs 6,000 kg). Several Russia-origin figures here are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, so treat this comparison as directional.
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Full data
Full spec sheet
| Performance | ||
| Max speed (km/h) | 2,120 km/h | 2,500 km/h ✓ |
| Max speed (Mach) (Mach) | 2 Mach | 2.35 Mach ✓ |
| Range (km) | 4,220 km ✓ | 3,530 km |
| Combat radius (km) | 550 km | 1,500 km ✓ |
| Service ceiling (m) | 15,240 m | 18,500 m ✓ |
| Thrust-to-weight | 1.1 | 1.13 ✓ |
| Firepower | ||
| Hardpoints | 9 | 10 ✓ |
| Weapons payload (kg) | 7,700 kg ✓ | 6,000 kg |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 15.06 m | 21.9 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 8,570 kg | 16,380 kg |
| Combat weight (kg) | 12,000 kg | 23,430 kg |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Propulsion | ||
| Thrust (kN) | 129 kN ✓ | 123 kN |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | $30,000,000 | N/A |
| Units built | 4,600 ✓ | 809 |
| Operator countries | 25 ✓ | 9 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is faster, Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon and Sukhoi Su-27? +
The Sukhoi Su-27 is the fastest of the 2 compared here, at 2,500 km/h.
Which has the longer range? +
The Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon has the longest range at 4,220 km.
Which carries the larger weapons payload? +
The Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon carries the largest weapons payload at 7,700 kg.
Which is cheaper? +
The Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon has the lower public unit-cost figure at 30,000,000 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher max speed (mach)? +
The Sukhoi Su-27 has the higher max speed (mach) at 2.35 Mach.
Which has the higher combat radius? +
The Sukhoi Su-27 has the higher combat radius at 1,500 km.
Is the Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon better than the Sukhoi Su-27? +
On the public specs we track, the Sukhoi Su-27 leads on 4 of 6 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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