Lockheed Martin has proudly unveiled the first F-16 Viper fighter aircraft produced at its manufacturing facility in South Carolina. This significant achievement represents the initial new-production F-16 in the advanced Block 70/72 configuration and is part of a series of 16 units being constructed for Bahrain.
Scheduled for its maiden flight in the early months of the upcoming year, the F-16 Viper exemplifies Lockheed Martin’s dedication to delivering cutting-edge aerospace technology.
In a recent statement, Lockheed Martin confirmed that the aircraft has successfully completed the final assembly and checkout (FACO) as well as the paint phases of its production.
It is now ready for the flight line in preparation for its inaugural flight. O.J. Sanchez, the Vice President and General Manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, expressed his enthusiasm for this milestone on LinkedIn, calling it an “outstanding accomplishment” and signaling that more exciting developments are on the horizon.
In 2017, Lockheed Martin made the strategic decision to transfer the production of F-16s from its primary facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to a smaller plant in Greenville, South Carolina.
This move was driven by a growing emphasis on the F-35 program, which continues to be produced in Fort Worth, and what seemed to be diminishing demand for the Viper.
At the time, industry experts recognized the move as a wise decision, one that could prevent the potential closure of the F-16 production line altogether. Since then, interest in the advanced Block 70/72 variants of the F-16 has surged, leading to significant orders for these jets.
The Greenville production line is already handling a backlog of 128 F-16s, including the 16 units destined for Bahrain. Additional Vipers are currently under construction for Slovakia and Bulgaria, with orders in place for Taiwan and another undisclosed country.
Lockheed Martin predicts that the backlog will continue to grow, with an expected contract for eight new jets for Jordan. Bulgarian authorities have also approved plans for a second tranche of fighters.
The Block 70/72 configuration builds upon the advanced upgrade package developed by Lockheed Martin for older F-16 Vipers. Upgraded V variants, designated as F-16Vs, have already entered service in Taiwan. The new production Block 70/72 F-16s incorporate Northrop Grumman’s AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar (SABR), an advanced active electronically scanned array radar.
These advanced Vipers feature a revamped glass cockpit with digital multi-function displays, updated mission computers, an advanced electronic warfare suite for self-defense, new data links, provisions for the Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), and more.
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