Lockheed Martin receives first F-16 for depot sustainment program.

Lockheed Martin has received its first F-16 from the U.S. Air Force as part of the $900 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract the company received in December 2020 to provide sustainment support and depot-overflow services for F-16 aircraft.

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The contract and jet’s arrival establishes the first ever U.S.-based F-16 industry depot to support government-owned depot facilities (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

The F-16 arrived at the Lockheed Martin facility in Greenville, South Carolina from Edwards Air Force Base, California on March 9, 2021 and will be inducted March 15, to begin work.

“The arrival of this first jet marks the beginning of fighter Sustainment work at the site and positions Greenville as an F-16 Center of Excellence, supporting both F-16 production and sustainment operations,” said Mike Fox, Lockheed Martin Greenville site director.

The IDIQ contract also establishes the first ever U.S.-based F-16 industry depot to support government-owned depot facilities and includes depot-level maintenance activities, predefined programmatic work, aircraft modification and unplanned drop-in maintenance. As the F-16 Fighting Falcon’s Original Equipment Manufacturer, Lockheed Martin is uniquely positioned to provide the most comprehensive knowledge of the aircraft and tailored sustainment solutions to optimize the F-16 fleet for greater capability, readiness and performance.

“We are excited for this opportunity to expand our partnership with the U.S. Air Force and ensure the continued readiness and capability of the F-16 fleet,” says Danya Trent, vice president of Lockheed Martin F-16 Program. “Our team of F-16 experts in Greenville are ready and prepared to meet our customer’s most challenging problems, partnering between Production and Sustainment operations, giving full life cycle coverage for the F-16.”

The F-16 Fighting Falcon offers advanced interoperable capabilities that enhance partnerships with allies across the world. It has been proving its effectiveness for decades and continues to remain the best value among 4th generation jets for its capabilities and affordable lifecycle costs. To date, a total of 4,588 F-16s have been produced and are currently operated by 25 countries.