Mon, May 12, 2003
F-16s To Patrol Skies Over Italy
Lockheed Martin executives, along with officers from the United
States and Italian Air Forces, participated in a rollout ceremony
last week at Hill Air Force Base(UT) for the first of 34 F-16
fighter aircraft to be provided to Italy under a program known as
"Peace Caesar."
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-flying F-16 aircraft will also go to
Italy to be cannabalized for spare parts.
Beefed Up Fighting Falcon
"The F-16 being rolled out is the result of more than two years
of effort at Hill Air Force Base that have produced an F-16 fighter
jet with additional airframe service life, an upgraded engine and
other modifications," said Robert T. Elrod, Lockheed Martin
Aeronautics Company's executive vice president of programs. "This
was a complex program, and the teamwork it took to make it happen
is unmatched. The U.S. Air Force has done a tremendous job getting
this plane ready, and Lockheed Martin stands ready to fulfill its
obligations after the plane is delivered to Italy in June."
Approximately 100 Italian Air Force maintenance officers,
instructors and technicians are receiving F-16 maintenance training
at Lockheed Martin facilities in Fort Worth (TX). Italian
instructors in will go home to train an additional 181 maintenance
technicians after they're finished at Fort Worth.
The Air Force and Lockheed Martin are also providing other types
of logistics support as part of the Peace Caesar Foreign Military
Sales Program, to include supply chain management and full
engineering technical services.
When You Care To Send The Very Best
The F-16, the choice of 24 countries, is the world's most
sought-after fighter. More than 4,000 aircraft have been delivered,
hundreds more are on order for the United States and seven other
countries, and production is expected to continue beyond 2010.
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