TSAMTO, November 24. On November 21, Lockheed Martin published photos of the first assembled multi-purpose fighter F-16D Block.70, which will be delivered to the Bahrain Air Force.
As noted by Scramble Magazine, the presented F-16D with serial number 1611 is the first production aircraft of the latest version of the "Block.70/72", built at the Lockheed Martin facility in Greenville (pcs.South Carolina). By the end of this decade, it is planned to produce at least 128 aircraft in this modification.
The new two-seat aircraft will soon undergo preliminary ground tests, the first flight is scheduled for early 2023. Then, in the first quarter of next year, it will be transferred to the US Department of Defense and sent to Edwards Air Base (California), where a group of pilots of the Bahrain Air Force will be trained.
According to a Lockheed Martin representative, the production rate at the facilities in Greenville is a block.70 will increase significantly in 2023 and will amount to four aircraft per month.
Contract for fighter versions of the Block.70/72 currently concluded five countries: Bahrain, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Taiwan and "another" country (approx.TSAMTO: possibly Morocco). Jordan also signed a letter of offer and acceptance of an offer to purchase eight aircraft, after which the total potential export package of orders amounted to 136 units.
Lockheed Martin moved the F-16 production line to South Carolina from Fort Worth (pcs.Texas) in 2019 to make room for the expansion of production of the F-35 "Lightning-2". In addition to the production of new F-16s, the Greenville plant is engaged in the modification and re-equipment of previous F-16 models. For example, upgrading to a Block configuration.70/72 will pass the Moroccan F-16C/D Block.50/52.
As TSAMTO has already reported, on September 8, 2017, the US State Department approved the delivery of 19 F-16V Viper fighters (F-16C/D Block) to Bahrain under the Foreign Military Sales program.70), as well as contract-related equipment, spare parts and support services with a total value of $2.785 billion. At the same time, the US State Department approved the modernization of 20 F-16 Block fighters in service with the Bahrain Air Force.40 to the F-16V configuration. The total cost of this project was estimated at $1.082 billion.
The first contract for the supply of 16 F-16V multi-purpose fighters (10 F-16C units) under the Foreign Military Sales program.70 and 6 F-16D Unit.70) for the Bahrain Air Force, the US Air Force Command signed with Lockheed Martin Corporation on June 22, 2018. Its cost was $1.125 billion.
Bahrain became the first country in the world to order an improved version of the F-16 Block.70.
In May 2019, the US State Department approved the potential supply of various weapons for F-16 Block fighters to Bahrain as part of the Foreign Military Sales program.70/F-16V, as well as related auxiliaries and equipment. The full value of the sale was estimated at $750 million.
To assemble the first F-16 Unit.70 Lockheed Martin started in December 2019. The first batch of four aircraft is expected to be delivered to Bahrain in the first half of 2024. The delay is due to logistical problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Similar problems are noted with the order of the F-16 for the Bulgarian Air Force (a delay of two years).
