F-16 Fighting Falcon News

September 13, 1999 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The governments of Israel and the United States signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance (LoA) on Sept. 10 providing for Israel's purchase of 50 new Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft. The agreement follows Israel's July selection of the advanced F-16I as its new fighter.
The total program, including the aircraft, mission equipment and a support package, is worth about $2.5 billion to Lockheed Martin and various suppliers. The agreement provides Israel an option to purchase 60 additional aircraft that would bring the total program value to $4.5 billion, if exercised for the full 110 aircraft.

Israel is acquiring an advanced version of the aircraft designated as the F-16I. The configuration includes updated avionics, color displays and a helmet-mounted display all manufactured by Elbit; an advanced electronic warfare suite manufactured by Elisra; advanced weapons and sensors manufactured by Rafael; and other improved systems. Israel Aircraft Industries, Cyclone and other Israeli companies will continue their long tradition of producing F-16 airframe components.

All of the 50 F-16Is will be two-seat versions powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine.

Deliveries of the new aircraft will begin in early 2003 and continue about three years. The term of aircraft deliveries will be extended until late in the next decade if Israel exercises the option for 60 additional F-16s. Final contract signature for the 50 aircraft is anticipated later this year.