Paul Lewis/WASHINGTON DC
Lockheed Martin plans to ramp up production of the F-16C/D again from 2001, the revival in domestic and international fighter sales over the last 12 months having reversed a six-year period of decline.
"The last year has been very good in terms of sales announcements and this has contributed a lot to our F-16 production backlog that will keep us engaged for much of the rest of the decade," says Bill Anderson, Lockheed Martin vice president F-16/F-2 business.
Less than a year ago the US manufacturer faced a potential production gap in 2001 between delivery of the final USAF F-16 then on order and the yet to be determined start of production for the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Production at the Fort Worth plant is to drop to 34 fighters this year, compared to 56 delivered last year and twice that in 1998.
Following Israel's 14 January signing of a $4.5 billion contract, Lockheed Martin's backlog has swelled to 120 F-16s with two contracts pending for another 130 aircraft. Production is projected to increase to around 40 aircraft in 2003, up to 85 the next year and a similar number in 2005, according to an industry source.
Total F-16 orders stand at 4,281 including licence-built aircraft, with Fort Worth set to complete the 4,000th fighter in March. Israel will begin taking delivery of the first of 50 new two-seat F-16D Block 50-Plus aircraft in 2003 and has options on another 60, which, if exercised, could extend deliveries out to 2008 and beyond.
Egypt has signed a contract to take 24 more F-16C/D Block 40s from 2001, while Greece has announced plans to order 50-60 Block 50-Plus fighters for delivery 30 months from contract signature. "We're actively engaged and expect to have a contract concluded within the first quarter of the year," says Anderson.
Lockheed Martin is waiting for a contract to be finalised with the UAE for 80 F-16C/D Block 60 aircraft 20 months after it was selected. In the interim, the Israeli and Egyptian orders, together with new USAF funding this year for the first 10 of a planned buy of 30 more fighters, has bought Lockheed Martin extra time. "Our attitude about the future is a lot more positive than 12 months ago," says Anderson.
• Industry sources predict that Norway will slip its fighter selection decision from February to later this year. Lockheed Martin is offering the F-16 Block 50-Plus and Block 60 against the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Source: Flight International
