Lockheed Martin Declares Profitable First Flight of F-16 Block 70 Plane

GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 24, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Lockheed Martin [NYSE: LMT] immediately introduced the profitable first flight of the F-16 Block 70 at its Greenville, South Carolina web site. 

The flight occurred Jan. 24 at 9:17 a.m. ET, with Lockheed Martin check pilots Dwayne “Professional” Opella and Monessa “Siren” Balzhiser on the helm. Whole flight time was roughly 50 minutes and included airworthiness checks, comparable to engine, flight management and gasoline system checks, in addition to fundamental plane dealing with. 

“At the moment’s profitable flight is a testomony of the exhausting work, dedication and dedication to our clients and their missions,” stated OJ Sanchez, vp, Built-in Fighter Group, which incorporates the F-16 program. “This milestone demonstrates Lockheed Martin’s dedication to advancing this program and getting this much-needed plane and its superior 21^st Century Safety capabilities to the warfighter.”

This F-16 Block 70 jet is the primary of 16 jets to be delivered to Bahrain. Six nations have chosen Block 70/72 plane. Along with the present official backlog of 128 jets to-date to be in-built Greenville, Jordan final 12 months signed a Letter of Provide and Acceptance (LOA) for eight jets and final week signed an extra LOA for 4 extra jets. Lockheed Martin has obtained a contract to start Jordan’s long-lead actions. Bulgaria has additionally signed an LOA for an extra eight jets for its fleet. As soon as these are finalized, the backlog will enhance to 148.

“Lockheed Martin is totally dedicated to delivering high quality platforms for our clients’ crucial missions, and I’m so happy with our gifted staff in Greenville,” stated Danya Trent, F-16 Vice President and Web site Lead in Greenville. “That is the end result of serious growth, design, digital engineering, provide chain and manufacturing line advances to an already confirmed platform that may proceed to ship many years of service in assist of consumers’ nationwide safety.”

Click on right here for first flight video footage.

Concerning the F-16

The F-16 is a strategic and useful selection for a lot of clients all over the world looking for superior, 4th era fighter plane capabilities, regional and worldwide partnerships, and reasonably priced lifecycle prices. Greater than 3,000 F-16s are working immediately in 25 nations. The F-16 has flown an estimated 19.5 million flight hours and not less than 13 million sorties. At the moment’s newest model, the Block 70/72, gives unparalleled capabilities and shall be flown by not less than 5 nations starting within the mid-2020s.

About Lockheed Martin

Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin Company is a worldwide safety and aerospace firm that employs roughly 114,000 individuals worldwide and is principally engaged within the analysis, design, growth, manufacture, integration and sustainment of superior expertise methods, services and products.

Please observe @LMNews on Twitter for the newest bulletins and information throughout the company.

SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics