Chief of UAE Armed Forces Views Final Assembly of First Block 60
F-16
Fort Worth, Texas Lt. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan,
Chief of Staff of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces, and
his delegation visited Lockheed Martins [NYSE: LMT] Fort Worth
plant on May 23 to review the status of the UAE F-16 program.
The visit included a program status briefing, a tour of the Block
60 program area and a demonstration in the Block 60 F-16 flight
simulator. During a tour of the factory, the delegation observed
that the forward, center and aft fuselage sections of the first UAE
F-16 are in final assembly. The delegation also was able to meet
with Lockheed Martin executives and with UAE pilots and project
team members residing in the United States.
I was very impressed with the design tools and modern aircraft
factory that are being used to develop and produce the UAE F-16,
said Sheikh Mohammed. I am pleased with the progress of the Block
60 program, which is tracking to schedule. This is a very important
program for our national defense, and we eagerly await receiving
our first aircraft next year.
The delegation also included Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan,
the UAE Minister of Information and Culture, and Maj. Gen. Khalid
bin Abdullah al Buainain, Commander of the UAE Air Force and Air
Defence.
We highly value the strong relationships with the United Arab
Emirates, said Dain M. Hancock, president of Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics. Sheikh Mohammed has been a strong supporter of this
program, and his personal involvement since the beginning has set
the tone for success.
Hancock explained why the UAE program is important to the company:
The 80 aircraft in this program extended our F-16 production and
provided a solid continuing production base. This program also
involved major development of new capabilities that allowed the
F-16 to remain technologically superior to the international
competitors. Finally, some of these technologies will be shared
among other F-16 programs and next-generation fighters.
The UAE selected the F-16 in an intense competition in 1998, and in
June 2000, the program was officially launched. The UAE has ordered
80 Block 60 F-16s, which will be delivered during 2004-2006. The
first aircraft will roll out later this year and begin extensive
flight testing. Engine flight testing already has begun.
The Block 60 configuration is the most extensive change in the
history of the F-16 program. The unique features of the Block 60
version include the APG-80 multimode radar with active
electronically scanned antenna, internalized forward-looking
infrared navigation and targeting system, advanced cockpit (three
large multifunction displays, picture-in-picture, enhanced
automation), fiber-optic avionics data bus, commercial
off-the-shelf processors, Falcon Edge internal electronic
countermeasures system and the 32,000-pound-thrust-class
F110-GE-132 engine. Like other advanced F-16s, the Block 60 can
carry conformal fuel tanks, and the two-seat version will feature a
dorsal avionics compartment and a fully mechanized rear
cockpit.
The F-16 is the choice of 24 countries. More than 4,000 aircraft
have been delivered. Major upgrades for all F-16 versions are being
incorporated to keep the fleet modern and fully supportable over
the aircrafts long service life.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., a business area of Lockheed
Martin, is a leader in the design, development, systems
integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft
and related technologies. Its customers include the military
services of the United States and allied countries throughout the
world. Products include the F-16, F/A-22, F-35 JSF, F-117, T-50,
C-5, C-130J, P-3, S-3 and U-2.
Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin Corp. is a global
enterprise principally engaged in the research, design,
development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology
systems, products and services. Employing about 125,000 people
worldwide, Lockheed Martin had 2002 sales of $26.6 billion.
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