In a ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's Greenville facility, delegates from the Republic of Slovakia have taken delivery of the country's first two F-16 Block 70 aircraft. The delivery marks a new era in European air defence, underscoring the deepening partnership between the two allied nations. F-16 Block 70 fighter jets will help the Slovak Republic to once again ensure the protection of its airspace with its own capacities.
The two aircraft, a single-seat C-model and a two-seat D-model, will remain in Greenville for maintenance training. This training is crucial for Slovak Air Force personnel to ensure the smooth integration and effective operation of the F-16 fleet. More jets are slated for completion by 2025, with the first group of aircraft anticipated to arrive in Slovakia by mid-2024.
OJ Sanchez, Vice President and General Manager of the ‘Integrated Fighter Group' at Lockheed Martin, emphasised the milestone's strategic importance: “Slovakia is at the forefront of adopting Europe's most advanced fourth-generation fighter, the F-16 Block 70. These jets not only represent a stronger alliance between Slovakia, the United States and NATO allies but also equip the Slovak Air Force with advanced capabilities to face 21st-century security challenges.”
Sanchez added: “As Slovakia joins the ranks of nations operating the F-16, a benchmark NATO fighter, they bolster their defence capabilities and readiness for global operations. With 11 more Slovak F-16s under production and testing, we are committed to delivering a total of 14 state-of-the-art jets, further solidifying our partnership.”
The F-16 Block 70 jets are equipped with Northrop Grumman APG-83 AESA radar, advanced avionics, an extended structural service life of 12,000 hours, and critical safety features like the automatic ground collision avoidance system (Auto GCAS). Since its integration into the U.S. Air Force in late 2014, the Auto GCAS has been instrumental in saving 13 pilots across 12 F-16 incidents, exemplifying the aircraft's unparalleled safety and performance standards.
Lockheed Martin has a backlog of 133 F-16 Block 70/72 jets to be produced in Greenville, with seven total jets delivered to-date for international partners.
