News

Testers at the 416th Flight Test Squadron are in the midst of testing M4.1+ avionics hardware and software upgrades to Block 40 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, verifying new capabilities provided by the software through flight and ground testing.

For the first time, the IDF/AF is dispatching fighter jets to Canada to participate in the Maple Flag exercises which will take place May 15-June 24. They will have 10 F-16s and about 150 air crew in Alberta.

Pakistan has increased its requirement on the number of F-16s to at least 55 and plans to decide on a configuration within the next few weeks. Industry sources say government-to-government meetings held in Pakistan last month resulted in a letter of request for 55 F-16s, plus 20 options.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated the arrival of its first F-16E/F aircraft on May 3rd. The first "Desert Falcon" F-16s to be based in the UAE were received by the crown prince, His Highness Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The 309th Aircraft Maintenance Group recently celebrated the completion of the first jet to go through a new, leaned-out modification process that shaved more than a month off the normal completion time.

As the sun beats down upon him, Airman Murphy wipes the sweat from his brow, spreading the layer of grease and oil from his hands onto his forehead. Consumed by the task at hand, he remains focused knowing his jet needs to be ready for takeoff within the hour. Suddenly his work is put on hold.

Indian Air Force (IAF) pilots will fly in F-16 jets of the Royal Thai Air Force as part of an exchange program aimed at boosting defense cooperation between the two countries.

The governments of the United States and Turkey signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LOA) for the systems upgrade of Turkish F-16s at an estimated total value of $1.1 billion.

"This is Panther, alarm red, alarm red, all personnel don your individual protective gear and take cover at the nearest shelter," comes a voice over the base intercom. He follows instruction and waits patiently for the all clear so he can dive back into his work.

Yesterday, April 14th, the first Chilean F-16 was rolled off the production line at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth marking the start of production deliveries to the Latin American country.

Last year Greece decided to scrap their agreement with the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) to buy 60 Eurofighter jets. The Greek press is now speculating the government may choose the LMTAS F-16 instead.

The US military lost significant amounts of training time because illegal immigrants from Mexico constantly wandered onto a bombing test range in Arizona.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Sunday accused the United States of delaying delivery of spare parts for his country's F-16 fighter planes as he looks to other countries for arms and military supplies.

Yesterday the Royal Netherlands Air Force presented its newly painted demo jet to the general public. F-16AM #J-055 has received a stunning new paint job replacing the already marvelous paint job on the former Dutch demo F-16 #J-016.

F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from Shaw AFB, S.C., were recently at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, to give feedback to members of the F-16 Systems Group on upgrades made to the aircraft.