Author Topic: F-16s Could Still be Flying Into the 2070s  (Read 175 times)

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rangerrebew

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F-16s Could Still be Flying Into the 2070s
« on: May 25, 2021, 11:23:11 am »
F-16s Could Still be Flying Into the 2070s
May 23, 2021 | By John A. Tirpak

Based on Lockheed Martin’s backlog of F-16 orders, planned upgrades, and the recent revelation that the Air Force plans to  depend on the fighter into the late 2030s, the F-16’s sunset years now could come in the 2070s, or later.

Lockheed Martin’s backlog of 128 F-16s—all for foreign military sales—won’t all be delivered until 2026, and the company anticipates more orders may be coming. With a potential service life of 40 years or more, those jets could be flying into the late 2060s or later. The type first entered service in the 1970s.

“There are 25 nations operating F-16s today,” said Col. Brian Pearson, Air Force Life Cycle Management Center lead for F-16 FMS, in a May 17 press release. Lockheed’s Greenville, S.C., F-16 manufacturing and upgrade facility, which will start turning out new F-16s in 2022, “helps us meet the global demand” for F-16 aircraft, he said. Lockheed moved its F-16 work from Fort Worth, Texas, in 2019 to make room there for expanded F-35 production.

https://www.airforcemag.com/f-16s-could-still-be-flying-into-the-2070s/

rangerrebew

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Re: F-16s Could Still be Flying Into the 2070s
« Reply #1 on: May 25, 2021, 11:25:57 am »
In 50 years the military will be so PC, if American even exists which is looking more doubtful by the day, they will need to reconfigure it so it drops only wrapped candy, petunias, and money to meet the PC requirements. :tongue2: