First F-16 Block 70 fighter jet with Slovakia's national emblem makes first successful flight
The first of 14 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets to be delivered to the Slovak Air Force made a successful first flight out of Lockheed Martin's production facility in Greenville, South Carolina, September 29, 2023. The aircraft's test flights are expected to be completed in the next several weeks, and this jet will then be used to support on-the-job maintenance training for Slovakians in the U.S., before arriving in Slovakia next year.
According to the current official agreement, deliveries of F-16s to the Slovak Air Force will commence in the second quarter of 2024.
Update: Lockheed Martin hands over first F-16s to Slovakia
The first two of 14 jets were delivered to the Slovak Air Force at Lockheed Martin's Greenville production facility in South Carolina.
Lockheed Martin told Janes that, in this context, ‘delivery' “refers to the acceptance of the two Slovakia F-16 Block 70s by the [US] Defense Contract Management Agency. This acceptance was formalised with the signing of a [US] Department of Defense (DoD) Form 250, commonly known as DD-250. In short, when an aircraft is said to be ‘delivered or DD-250'd', it signifies that it has successfully completed the acceptance process and is now officially recognised as part of the [US] DoD's inventory or assets. Additionally, the first C-model (single-seat) and D-model (two-seater) will support On-the-Job Maintenance Training before they arrive in Slovakia”.
These first two aircraft are expected to be flown to the Eastern European country in mid-2024, with deliveries of the remaining aircraft to run through 2025.
Slovakia takes official delivery of first two F-16 Block 70 fighter jets in USA
A delegation of the Slovak Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces officials, led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, Mr Robert Kaliňák, attended the Slovakia F-16 Block 70 Delivery Ceremony for the first two SVK F-16 fighter jets at Lockheed Martin's production facility in Greenville, South Caroline. While there, the head of the Slovak MOD was also updated on the progress being made in the production of the remaining F-16s on order from the United States.
After finalising the contractual delivery arrangements for the first two SVK F-16 aircraft, which Lockheed Martin announced in January 2024, the fighter jets were now officially handed over during the Slovakia F-16 Block 70 Delivery Ceremony on Thursday 29 February 2024.
Before arriving in Slovakia, both aircraft – a single-seat C-model and a two-seat D-model – will be used for the F-16 maintenance training programme for SVK technicians in the USA.
The first group of aircraft is scheduled to arrive in Slovakia by mid-2024.
