Lockheed Martin Expects 300 F-16 Block 70 Sales in Coming Years

Lockheed Martin has announced a sales target of 300 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in the coming years.

The company aims to expand production and sales capabilities for these aircraft, which have been in use by various countries, including the U.S. military, for nearly five decades.

OJ Sanchez, Vice President of the F-16 and F-22 Programs, stated, "As we continue to work on and develop the systems we produce, we also want to increase our production capacity. We see a great opportunity for an order of approximately 300 new F-16s."

The Greenville, South Carolina, factory will remain a production hub for the F-16s over the next decade. Lockheed Martin currently has an order backlog of 128 aircraft and plans to more than double its production capacity next year, aiming for an annual output of 48 jets.

Countries such as Turkey, Thailand, and the Philippines have expressed interest in the F-16 Block 70/72 Viper models. The U.S. has offered Thailand improved financing terms for acquiring Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 fighters after the Saab Gripen E/F was reportedly considered the Royal Thai Air Force’s preferred aircraft. Lockheed Martin proposed industrial participation to boost local economic benefits and training. Meanwhile, the Philippines is also considering purchasing 12 F-16s. Since the U.S. approved the sale in 2021, Manila has been exploring financing options, including second-hand purchases or financial aid from Washington. Sweden's Saab JAS 39 Gripen is a top contender alongside the F-16. Turkey has ordered 40 new F-16s after being denied F-35 jets following its purchase of Russian S-400 systems and is negotiating for 80 modernization kits.

The F-16 Block 70 is a multi-role fighter, used in air-to-air and air-to-land missions. New customers include Bulgaria, Bahrain, Morocco, Jordan, Slovakia, and Taiwan. The latest iterations of the F-16, particularly the Block 70 and 72 series are equipped with radar technology akin to that utilized in the F-35, these aircraft offer enhanced situational awareness for pilots, bolstering mission effectiveness and survivability. The F-16’s Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) and autonomous safety systems mitigates risks during maneuvers and emergencies, thereby enhancing pilot safety. Structural improvements have increased the aircraft's service life to 12,000 flight hours, representing a 50% improvement over previous generations.