Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the air superiority fighters category.
01 / Overview
Polikarpov I-16
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1934–1942
Quantity
10,292
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS · INTERWAR PERIOD
9
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
90
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the air superiority fighters category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General6MOD.6
- First Flight1933
- Service Entry Year1935
- Crew1
- Primary RoleFighter
- Generation1930s
- In ServiceNo
◈Powerplant8MOD.8
- Engine TypeShvetsov M-63
- Engine ModelShvetsov M-25 (licensed Wright Cyclone)
- Number of Engines1
- Thrust (dry, each)5,290
- AfterburnerNo
- SupercruiseNo
- Thrust VectoringNo
- Internal Fuel225 kg
▣Performance10MOD.10
- Top Speed450 km/h
- Top Speed (Mach)0.73 Mach
- Cruise Speed350 km/h
- Stall Speed120 km/h
- Service Ceiling9,700 m
- Ferry Range720 km
- Combat Radius300 km
- Rate of Climb14.7 m/s
- G-Limit9
- Takeoff Run200 m
◇Dimensions & Weights7MOD.7
- Length6.13 m
- Wingspan9 m
- Height3.25 m
- Wing Area14.5
- Empty Weight1,490 kg
- Loaded Weight1,941 kg
- Max Takeoff Weight2,100 kg
◆Armament7MOD.7
- Hardpoints2
- Weapons Payload200 kg
- Internal Gun2×7.62 mm ShKAS machine guns (later up to 4)
- Air-to-Air MissilesNo
- Air-to-Ground MissilesNo
- Anti-Ship MissilesNo
- Nuclear CapableNo
▤Avionics & Stealth7MOD.7
⬢Production3MOD.3
- Total Built10,292
- Operators9
- Variants12
▲Service History4MOD.4
- Retirement Year1953
- Production Start1933
- Production End1942
- Operational StatusRetired
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1932First deployment: Soviet–Japanese border conflicts
- 1934Production started
- 1942Production ended
92
years in service
8
years in production
10,292
units produced
7
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it.
04 / Conflicts
POLIKARPOV I-16 · CONFLICTS SERVED IN0% win·40% loss
Total Conflicts
5
Victories
0
Ongoing
0
Losses
2
1941–1945Eastern FrontDecisive victory→1939–1940Winter WarDecisive victory→1939Soviet invasion of Poland—→1939Battles of Khalkhin Gol—→1937–1945Second Sino-Japanese War—→
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
06 / MASS Score
AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS RANKING Air Superiority Fighters · Interwar Period
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
180AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS9INTERWAR PERIOD · AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS1234RUSSIA · ALL WEAPONS51PERFORMANCE/PRICE · AIR SUPERIORITY FIGHTERS
ⓘ Rankings are within theAir Superiority Fighterscategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE1terms
A helmet-mounted display system that allows pilots to aim weapons by looking at targets, tracking head movements to direct sensors or weapons.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources