Lockheed Martin tests the first F-16 fighter aircraft built at its Greenville facility in South Carolina. This two-seater Block 70 is built for Bahrain. This was reported by Flight Global. On January 24, “the plane’s 50-minute flight ended”including basic aircraft handling as well as airworthiness checks such as engine, flight control and fuel system checks‘, says Lockheed.

The first Greenville-built Block 70 aircraft is one of 16 aircraft to be delivered to Bahrain under the 2018 agreement. The new aircraft will join the Royal Air Force fleet of 21 F-16C/Ds. The photo from Lockheed shows that the fighter has the markings of the Bahraini Air Force.

One of 16 F-16 Block 70s ordered for Bahrain during testing, Greenville, South Carolina, January 2023. Photograph: Lockheed Martin. Besides Bahrain, Bulgaria (8), Morocco (24), Slovakia (14) and Taiwan (66) became new customers for the F-16 Block 70 with the GE Aerospace F110 engine and Block 72 with the Pratt & Whitney F100 engine. In general, the total “firm” order quantity is 128 cars. Bulgaria also signed a framework agreement in which it could double its contract to 16 aircraft. Although Ankara was previously excluded from the Lockheed F-35 program, Turkey is also looking for opportunities to purchase 40 new F-16s.

F 16

The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multi-purpose light fighter aircraft of the fourth generation of the Lockheed Martin company. Due to its versatility and relatively low cost, the F-16 is considered the largest fighter of the fourth generation in the world.

The final modernization of the fighter in the Block 70/72 version was presented in 2015. As part of the modernization, the electronic component of the fighter was updated – it received a new onboard radar with active phased array APG-83 (SABR). It can detect and detect targets in the air and on the ground at long distances. The fighter also has an onboard radio-electronic combat complex with jamming systems, a helmet-mounted aiming system, data transmission equipment according to the Link 16 standard, and other local upgrades.

Experts compare the electronic component of the F-16 fighter in the Block 70/72 version with the onboard electronics of the 5th generation F-22 and F-35 fighters. Thanks to the Link 16 data command line, aircraft can exchange tactical information in real time with fifth-generation aircraft, as well as AWACS long-range radar detection systems and Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems.

Upgrading the electronic and onboard radar station will significantly increase the effectiveness of the aircraft’s guided weapons: Raytheon AIM-120C7 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles and guided bomb weapons. Thanks to their airborne EW systems, they will be able to increase their combat survivability in conditions of strong opposition to air defense systems. Source