F-16 Fighting Falcon News

July 18, 2003 (by Lieven Dewitte) - Lockheed Martin officials, along with officers from the United States and Italian Air Forces, celebrated the delivery today of the first of 34 F-16 fighter jets to be provided to Italy under a program known as Peace Caesar. The ceremony took place at Trapani Air Base, Italy.
The Italian Air Force chose the leased F-16 option as the most cost- effective solution to replace its aging fleet of Tornado and F-104 fighters. The lease is for five years with a five-year follow-on option. Four non- flyable F-16 aircraft are being supplied for generation of spare parts.

Approximately 100 Italian Air Force maintenance officers, instructors and technicians received F-16 maintenance training at Lockheed Martin facilities in Texas. Italian instructors in Italy will train additional Italian maintenance technicians.

The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are also providing other types of logistics support as part of the Peace Caesar program, to include supply chain management and full engineering technical services.