Operation Iraqi Freedom
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq (AFPN) -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon awaits takeoff here. The aircraft is currently supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom. The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. John E. Lasky)