Originally Posted by
F35Driver
In UK parlance the F35 is known simply as ‘Lightning’. All numbers have been dropped. Interestingly, the USAF are now calling it the Panther (same vein as they renamed the Fighting Falcon the Viper)
I don't think the F16 was "renamed"
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-16.html
A service nickname perhaps...
Interestingly ..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panther
and
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_panther