The fourth upgraded F-16 Block 72 is being delivered to the Air Force this week by ODA. This is “025”, a former two-seat F-16D Block 52+ Advanced that operated with the 335th “Tiger” Squadron. The plane in question had landed in Tanagra on July 6, 2021, and last week, on October 21, it made its first test flight.
This is the second two-seater fighter to be upgraded and will be assigned to the 343 Squadron “Asteri”, which receives F-16V. Along with the first delivered two-seater plane, the pace of the training program implemented in a relevant school, for the transition of pilots to the new type, is strengthened.
As we reported, the first two-seater F-16D, numbered “603”, was delivered two weeks ago. It was a former F-16D Block 52+ of the 340 “Fox” Squadron, which had arrived in Tanagra on May 18, 2021. In this way, the delivery to the Air Force of two upgraded F-16Vs by the ODA is achieved within October.
With the delivery of “025”, the delivery of the first 4 upgraded planes coming off the ODA line is completed. The specific planes, two single-seaters and two two-seaters, are designated “kitproof”, represent the two versions Block 52+ and Block 52+ Advanced that underwent the upgrade work and based on them, the work will be carried out from here on out on the remaining 78 planes.
