The Air Force caught up and “locked” in time the upgrade package of its Viper fighters at a price sub-multiples of the corresponding new ones
It has often been heard from critics of the Air Force’s F-16 Viper upgrade program that it is a very expensive program.
Against the fact that Turkey is frantically trying to achieve a similar program for 80 of its own plus the purchase of an additional 40, let’s look at the figures from the manufacturer itself, LockheedMartin, on the occasion of the order of new fighters from Bahrain.
It appears the F-16 is too tough to die – as many predicted it would because of the F-35, which was originally intended to replace it. In fact, since 2018, a second youth has passed.
The presentation of the Block 70/72 also known as the Viper or “viper” as we call it in Greece, brought the total renaissance of the fighter, which has begun to become sought after by many countries. The program costs Greece around 1.4 billion and as the insiders report, the aircraft comes out brand new giving air for an additional 20 years to the Air Force.
Bahrain is one of the countries that by 2023 will start receiving its first fighters, from the total of 16 it has ordered for 1.2 billion.
It is easy to see why the leadership of the Armed Forces insisted on upgrading the Block 52 and how with so much money they ensured the extension of the fighter’s use for an additional 2 decades.
Images released by Lockheed show Bahrain’s new flagship aircraft – one of four potential two-seat examples – undergoing structural assembly in Greenville, South Carolina around the middle of this year, including the installation of the landing gear and fuselage wing .
Five countries have so far signed firm contracts to acquire the Block 70 aircraft with Pratt & Whitney F100 Block 72 engines, with their combined commitments totaling 128 jets. Along with Bahrain, these buyers are customers that already have F-16s in their fleets: Morocco (24) and Taiwan (66), as well as two future new customers and NATO members: Bulgaria (8) and Slovakia (14).
“Production of the Block 70/72 continues to make significant progress, with several aircraft being prepared for Bahrain, Slovakia and Bulgaria,” the company says. “The production rate of Block 70 will increase significantly throughout 2023, with DD250 deliveries for additional customers continuing into the mid to late 20s.”
