Lockheed Martin plans to increase production of upgraded F-16 Block 70/72 fighters by 5-8 times - so far there are only two aircraft

American defense contractor Lockheed Martin intends to increase the number of 4 generation F-16 fighters several times

Fighting Falcons upgraded to Block 70/72Only two such aircraft.

What is known

Last year, Lockheed Martin built the firstfighter F-16 Block 70/72. In February 2023, the second aircraft rolled off the assembly line. By the end of this year, the company intends to create another 5-8 fighters.

Aircraft production is established at the factoryLockheed Martin in Greenville, South Carolina. Previously, the production line was located in Texas. For a new enterprise, the optimal indicator is the production of 48 fighters per year.

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Lockheed Martin intends to reach the plannedindicators by 2025. Now 136 Block 70/72 fighters remain on order, but their number will increase to 148 units, because. Jordan wants to purchase an additional batch of aircraft. If the planned pace is reached, orders will be completed by 2027 or 2028. This means that if someone wants to buy the F-16 Block 70/72, then deliveries will have to wait at least six years.

Upgraded fighters have a resource of12,000 flight hours, which is one and a half times more compared to older versions. Thus, the F-16 Block 70/72 will fly with the fifth generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft for many years to come.