The fleet's Vipers

The Navy does have operational General Dynamics F-16's, only they are named "Vipers" to set them apart from the U.S.A.F. "Fighting Falcons". Used in real life first at N.A.S. Miramar and the Navy Fighter Weapons School and to this day at N.A.S. Fallon with the Naval Strike Air Warfare Center (Topgun's heir), the "Vipers" serve in dissimilar air combat tactics (D.A.C.T.) training in the adversary role, providing the fleet with a light and highly maneuverable aircraft to fly against the front line naval fighters during TOPGUN engagements.

"Bad Girl 24" at N.A.F. Eagles Nest.

Vipers on the tarmac at Miramar before an intercept exercise - class 1 of 2017.

As in real life, N.A.S. Miramar has a number of F-16N Vipers used for D.A.C.T., increasing the capacity and options of the local aggressors. At this time we have 4 naval aviators assigned to the aggressor squadron (VFC-13 Saint Adversaries), who also fly the F-5E Tiger, the A-4 Skyhawk, and occasionally soviet fighters "acquired" for D.A.C.T. engagements in Vietnam with 7th Fleet. The VFC-13 squadron leader, CAPT. Vickster "Speed" Kühn, also flies an F/A-18B Hornet assigned to the N.F.W.S. (Black Zero Zero).

VFC-13 aggressors at Eagles Nest: F-15N Viper and F-5E Tiger.

Bad Girls 24 and 26 over the Aldabra Sea, North of N.A.S. Miramar.

Aggressor pilots come from front line squadrons at Miramar and also from TOPGUN crews that made top of their class, whom are given the option of becoming aggressors with VFC-13 as well as N.F.W.S. instructors. You can see the Viper's profile here!

CAPT. Asra Kron
NASMCO / TFCOM
 

NFWS General Dynamics F-16N Viper

With the implementation of the TOPGUN program at Miramar, the Navy Fighter Weapons School decided to add a new aircraft in the aggressor role, originally assigned only to the F-5E’s of VFC-13. With the objective of providing multiple types of adversary aircraft to the crews attending TOPGUN classes, and having the F-5E Tiger solid as a single region fighter, the decision was made to introduce the General Dynamics F-16N Viper as a multi-region opponent for DACT purposes.
The F-16N’s in service at NAS Miramar received a Soviet Navy like three tone over all camouflage with similar markings to those observed at real life Miramar in the late 1980’s. The aircraft illustrated is “Bad Girl 25”, BuNo. 17025, assigned to the commanding officer of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, Captain Vickster “Speed” Kühn. A total of four Vipers were commissioned in mid-2017 and just as in real life, they are the only F-16 in the Navy.

Real life notes:

In the mid-1980’s, the US Navy was eagerly seeking a replacement for its aggressor aircraft. The Navy found that the F-5 and A-4 in service at the time were not longer satisfactory for this role as these aircraft lacked the latest avionics developments and they would soon become obsolete, requiring extensive maintenance. The lack of an up to date highly maneuverable aircraft to perform in the aggressor role with DACT characteristics resulted in the decision to procure a special version of the F-16 to fill this gap.
The F-16N is based on the standard F-16C/D block 30 and is powered by the General Electric F110-GE-100 engine. However, the F-16N has a strengthened wing and is capable of carrying an Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) pod on the starboard wingtip. Production of the F-16N Viper totaled 26 air frames of which 22 were single-seat F-16N's and 4 were double-seat TF-16N's. The aircraft were in service with the NFWS between 1988 and 1998.

CAPT. Asra "Cougar" Kron
NASMCO / TFCOM