First 3 Greenville-made F-16 fighter jets ship overseas

Listen to this article

The first three Greenville-made F-16 Block 70 jets are on their way to Bahrain.

Lockheed Martin on March 6 marked the milestone with the departure of the first ferry cell of jets. The Gulf region kingdom officially took ownership of its first F-16 a year ago in a ceremony at Lockheed Martin’s campus at the South Carolina Technology and Aviation center.

Related story: Even top brass couldn’t resist a chance for selfie with an F-16

That event was followed by a period of testing and training — and the continued assembly of more jets —  leading up to final delivery. This event highlights Bahrain’s role as the first Gulf Cooperation Council member to operate the F-16 and now the first to integrate the F-16 Block 70 variant into its fleet, according to a news release from Lockheed Martin.

The three fighter planes are being flown to Bahrain where the Royal Bahrani Air Force will operate them.

To date, Lockheed Martin has produced five F-16 Block 70 jets for Bahrain, with an additional 11 in various stages of production and testing. The initial aircraft are performing flight test missions at California’s Edwards Air Force Base, with the 416th Flight Test Squadron, the release stated.

O.J. Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin, emphasized the importance of the F-16 in the joint 21st Century Security battlespace.

“With the introduction of the F-16 Block 70, we are witnessing a significant leap in fighter capabilities,” Sanchez said in the release. “The integration of this proven platform will allow the Royal Bahraini Air Force to safeguard its skies effectively and partner with allies worldwide.”

More than 3,100 F-16s are operational in 25 countries. Sanchez said the contract with Bahrain reflects an enduring partnership between the U.S. government, Bahrain and Lockheed Martin. 

The F-16 Block 70 jets represent a significant leap in fighter capabilities at the forefront of 4.5-generation technology, according to Lockheed Martin. These aircraft are equipped with the APG-83 AESA Radar, advanced avionics, and a modernized cockpit featuring new safety systems and sophisticated weapon platforms. A key safety feature, the Automatic Ground Collision Avoidance System, introduced in late 2014, has been instrumental in saving the lives of 13 pilots across 12 jets, demonstrating the aircraft’s superior safety and performance capabilities. It takes control of the plane if a pilot loses consciousness during the extreme G-force conditions that can take place during flight, according to the news release and information revealed at a recent ceremony celebrating delivery of the jets to Slovakia.

Related story: Second international ally receives Greenville-made F-16 fighters 

The current backlog of the F-16 Block 70 program includes 133 aircraft for six countries. This year, Lockheed Martin anticipates 19-21 jets will be delivered from the company’s production line in Greenville.