Lockheed Martin’s F-16 fighter jet sustainment depot in Greenville, S.C., has taken delivery of the first aircraft from the U.S. Air Force, in line with the $900-million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract it announced in December. The fighter jet was delivered from Edwards Air Force Base in California, earlier this month.
The F-16, developed by General Dynamics and now manufactured by Lockheed, is a single-engine aircraft that represents about 45% of the USAF’s fighter fleet. Nearly 4,600 F-16s have been built since the late 1970s, and though it’s no longer being supplied to the Air Force it represents the largest component of the USAF fighter fleet and updated versions are being supplied to foreign military sales customers.
Late last year the Air Force’s F-16 System Program Office placed an IDIQ contract with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics to establish an F-16 Continental United States (CONUS) Depot with twelve dock spaces at the Greenville Operations., to provide maintenance and modernization in support to government-owned facilities. Services will include predefined programmatic work, aircraft modification, and unplanned drop-in maintenance.
Currently there are two other contracted F-16 depots overseas, one in Europe and one in the Pacific.
Lockheed claimed it 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,” according to a statement.
Danya Trent, vice president of Lockheed Martin F-16 Program, stated: “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.”
