PR NEWSWIRE
ON APR 12, 2017
SOURCE: PRNEWSWIRE
SOURCE: PRNEWSWIRE
FORT WORTH,
Texas, April 12, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Air Force authorized
extending the service life of the Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) F-16's designed
service life to 12,000 Equivalent Flight Hours — far beyond the
aircraft's original design service life of 8,000 hours.
Following
F-16 Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) structural modifications, the U.S.
Air Force could safely operate Block 40-52 aircraft to 2048 and beyond. The Air
Force and Lockheed Martin also reduced projected service life costs for the
Block 40-52 fleet, paving the way for safe, cost-effective F-16 flight
operations decades into the future.
"This
accomplishment is the result of more than seven years of test, development,
design, analysis and partnership between the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed
Martin," said Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed Martin's F-16
program. "Combined with F-16 avionics modernization programs like the
F-16V, SLEP modifications demonstrate that the Fighting Falcon remains a highly
capable and affordable 4th Generation option for the U.S. Air Force and
international F-16 customers."
Validation of
the extended flight hour limit directly supports the SLEP goal of extending the
service life of up to 300 F-16C/D Block 40-52 aircraft. SLEP and related
avionics upgrades to the Air Force's F-16C/D fleet can safely and effectively
augment the current fighter force structure as U.S. and allied combat air
fleets recapitalize with F-35 Lightning IIs.
A second
phase, or Part II, of the F-16 SLEP airworthiness process continues with the
request for Military Type Certificate (MTC), which will be submitted to the Air
Force's Technical Airworthiness Authority in the coming months. Part II seeks
to validate further extending the F-16's operational life based on final service
life analysis from extended durability testing.
About the
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The F-16 continues to prove itself as the world's most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter aircraft, having served with 28 customers around the world. The F-16V, the latest F-16 avionics upgrade configuration, includes numerous enhancements designed to keep the F-16 at the forefront of international security. The F-16 Block 70/72, the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration, combines capability and structural upgrades into the most advanced F-16 production aircraft ever offered.
The F-16 continues to prove itself as the world's most successful, combat-proven multi-role fighter aircraft, having served with 28 customers around the world. The F-16V, the latest F-16 avionics upgrade configuration, includes numerous enhancements designed to keep the F-16 at the forefront of international security. The F-16 Block 70/72, the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration, combines capability and structural upgrades into the most advanced F-16 production aircraft ever offered.
For
additional information, visit our website: lockheedmartin.com/f16
Original
post: aviationpros.com
Related post:
F-16C/D: Details
F-16V
Fighter– Upgrade: Details
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