Lockheed Martin plans to fly the first F-16 Block 60 Fighting Falcon in 2003, prior to the start of deliveries to the United Arab Emirates the following year.
The US fighter company signed the contract for 80 of its best-selling aircraft, including 55 single-seaters and 25 two-seaters, in June. Dwaine Mayfield, the company's point-man for the UAE deal, says the UAE aircraft will include many new features, including a General Electric F110-GE-132 engine, radar and FLIR sensors, colour cockpit, electronic warfare suite, flight controls, precision weapons, core avionics, conformal fuel tanks and 2,200 litre (600 gal) drop tanks. Mayfield says the Block 60 version of the F-16 provides significant range performance improvements, including more than 1,480km (800nm) range with two 2,000lb air-to-ground weapons and more than 3h of loiter time on a combat air patrol station armed with air-to-air missiles.
Source: Flight Daily News
