Lockheed Martin delivers first pair of F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to Slovakia

BELFAST — Lockheed Martin said today it formally delivered the first two of 14 F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon fourth generation fighter jets to Slovakia.

The manufacturer announced the deliveries in a statement in which an executive noted that the move marks a “crucial starting point in bolstering the country’s defense capabilities.”

The company statement did not mention if a Slovakian delegation attended the delivery event at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, S.C., production facility, as is typical for such a milestone. The first tranche of aircraft will not arrive in country, as part of a “ferry cell,” until mid-2024, and all deliveries are set to run through 2025, according to the manufacturer.

“The integration of this proven platform will allow the Slovak Air Force to effectively safeguard its borders and partner with allies across Europe, NATO, and the world,” said OJ Sanchez, vice president and general manager of the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin. “We stand committed to our mission of advancing 21st Century Security through cost-effective operations and strategic partnerships, ensuring the safety and well-being of U.S. allies.”

Slovakia, which shares its eastern border with Ukraine, is set to become the first European operator of the Block 70 configured jets, initially agreeing to the 14 aircraft order for €1.58 billion ($1.8 billion) in December 2018, Bratislava’s most expensive military procurement, per the AFP news service. Lockheed originally rolled out the first Slovak F-16 Block 70 jet from Greenville in September.

The manufacturer added that it has 135 of the Block 70 aircraft on backlog, which it expects to increase by eight units once a Bulgarian order has been agreed, rubberstamping the signature of an earlier Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA). Production of Bulgarian aircraft, based on an original order for eight aircraft is underway, with deliveries expected to begin “later this year,” a Lockheed Martin spokesperson told Breaking Defense. Bahrain got its first Block 70 last March.

The Block 70 fighter jets are integrated with Northrop Grumman’s advanced APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and a high resolution Center Pedestal Display, so pilots can have an improved tactical view of their surroundings and leverage AESA and targeting pod data, according to Lockheed Martin company literature.

Foreign customers have been hungry for the Block 70 jets, particularly in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as well as in response to the growing threat posed by China. Buyers like Taiwan have seen the schedule for their Block 70 F-16s slip, prompting congressional outcry and calls to speed up deliveries to the island nation.

“Beyond Block 70 new production aircraft, this year Lockheed Martin will continue to collaborate with European F-16 operators to ensure fleet readiness and strong capabilities, exemplified by our work in Romania with the European F-16 Training Center, as well as in Greece with the F-16 Viper upgrade program,” added the Lockheed spokesperson.