Lockheed Martin predicts continued success, bright future for F-16

Lockheed Martin told reporters at the Paris Air show today that its 'revolutionary' F-16 was still the fighter of choice for many countries around the world and the programme's growth potential heading into the 21st century was rock solid. The company did not see the advent of JSF making much difference to future sales.

"2000 was a phenomenal year for the F-I 6 and as evidenced by yesterday's announcement, we are continuing that trend this year," said Don W. Jones, vice president of F-16 Programmes at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, the builders of the fighter at Fort Worth, Texas.

Jones was referring to an announcement on Tuesday that the Government of Israel has reached an understanding with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company to purchase more than 50 additional F-16s as a follow-on order to the 50 aircraft ordered by Israel last year. "The 234 new orders last year plus the additional aircraft announced yesterday are worth more than $10 billion to Lockheed Martin and extends our production base from 2002 to 2009.

The company received new orders last year from Israel (50), Greece (50), UAE (80), Korea (20), Singapore (20), and the US Air Force (14). Not counting Tuesday's announcement, the programme has now sold 4,285 aircraft in 21 countries, with 253 aircraft to be delivered as of June 1.

Lockheed Martin said that the F-16 was being kept up to date by inserting the latest technology into the combat proven air-frame. The list includes new radars, sophisticated targeting systems, new cockpits, helmet-mounted cueing systems, advanced avionics systems and architecture, data links, SATCOM, advanced electronic warfare suites, improved engines, new weapons, increased fuel capacity, improved flight controls, upgraded aircraft power and cooling systems, and structural strengthening.

These systems are designed to give the F-16 critical new combat operational capabilities including:

• Extended-range, simultaneous, multi-target air-to-air intercept
• High-off-boresight target attack in close-in air combat
• Standoff, all-weather, precision strike
• Enhanced survivability versus the most advanced threats
• Significantly expanded range/payload/loiter/combat persistence.

"The new F-16s will have the ability to operate autonomously at any level of the air battle as a member of a flight or strike package, and as part of a theatre-wide network of 'systems of systems'," Jones said, "These aircraft will have the capability to be extremely effective in the battlespace of the future and can be upgraded to meet even greater requirements, such as expanded information fusion and integration of 'brilliant weapons'."

Jones also pointed out that Lockheed Martin offered 'total programme tailoring' to meet unique customer requirements. Tailoring includes aircraft configuration (internal systems, weapons capability, sensor pods, external fuel tanks, and 2-seat versions), delivery schedules, logistics support and training concepts, contracting vehicles, industrial cooperative efforts, and financing.

"The F-16 remains the fighter of choice in the world, and its future remains vibrant," said Mac Stevenson, vice president of Business Development at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. We are pursuing orders for another 30 or so aircraft in the remainder of this year for Greece, Chile and Oman and we are actively engaged with multiple opportunities in central Europe and Asia.

Looking further to the future, Stevenson added, "We see a long-term potential for another 500 F-16s, and this would extend production well beyond 2010. On top of that, there is good potential for sales or lease of at least 100 more USAF inventory aircraft. The F-16 is the 'world's most sought after fighter' today, and I see that continuing for quite a few more years."

Stevenson said that the advent of the JSF was unlikely to sound the death knell of the F-16, because some customers, would be unable to wait until 2015+ for delivery of the new fighter, and, since the JSF had stealth technology, export licences might be difficult in some cases.

REF XQQAS XQQAR