An F-16 fighter jet takes shape on the assembly line at Lockheed's plant in Greenville, S.C. Lockheed Martin
Advanced F-16 Version Makes First Flight, Lockheed Says
Five countries have ordered the fighter jet’s Block 70 variant, and the company is looking for more customers.
The newest version of the F-16 fighter jet flew for the first time Tuesday, aircraft maker Lockheed Martin said Tuesday.
The jet, which has been built for Bahrain, made its maiden flight from a Lockheed factory in Greenville, South Carolina. CEO Jim Taiclet mentioned the flight during the company’s quarterly earnings call on Tuesday morning.
“It was successful [and] a really great milestone for the company and for that organization in South Carolina,” Taiclet said.
The Block 70 F-16 has better electronics, radar, and cockpit displays than older F-16s flown by the United States and allies.
Besides Bahrain, the jet has been ordered by Bulgaria, Slovakia, Taiwan, and most recently Jordan, which signed a contract for 12 Block 70s last week.
“There is significant demand for this aircraft…from allies around the world,” Taiclet said. “We’re out actively marketing this jet to those countries that may not be authorized yet or maybe not have the infrastructure for [the] F-35 [stealth fighter] at this moment that may in the future.”
Taiclet said India falls in that category.
More than 20 F-16s are currently under construction in Greenville, Lockheed CFO Jay Malave said on the earnings call. The company plans to deliver seven or eight aircraft this year.
“That will step up significantly in 2024,” Malave said. “We’re ramping up [production], as we speak, to be able to deliver to customer requirements.”