Slovakia Becomes First European Nation to Operate F-16 Block 70 Jet

Slovakia has become the first European country to operate the F-16 Block 70 jet, with the arrival of its first aircraft on July 22.

Lockheed Martin has so far produced five F-16 Block 70 jets for Slovakia, with the remaining nine currently in production. All 14 jets are scheduled for delivery by the end of 2025.

The F-16 Block 70 jets feature advanced technology, including the Northrop Grumman APG-83 AESA Radar, enhanced avionics, and an extended structural service life of 12,000 hours. Critical safety systems like the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System (Auto GCAS) are also integrated, a feature that has saved 13 pilots in 12 incidents since its introduction to the U.S. Air Force in 2014.

Lockheed Martin, with a backlog of 128 F-16 Block 70/72 jets to be produced at its Greenville, South Carolina facility, has delivered 12 jets to international partners to date.

The official delivery of the first two aircraft to Slovakia occurred in late February.