In 1998, Portuguese F-16s participated in a NATO Show-of-Force mission in the Balkans due to instability in the region caused by the Bosnia-Herzegovina conflict.

This mission was named "Determined Falcon" and was characterized by missions lasting several hours, multiple air refuelings, flights in congested airspace, and adverse weather conditions.

The involvement in this multinational environment marked the first operational deployment of national F-16s, with the contingent operating from Aviano Air Base in Italy.