Including a “postponed” buy of 80 to Pakistan and 40 for Greece (the Greeks are rethinking their decision), Lockheed sees a firm future market for about 200 new F-16s—possibly many more. Working off the existing backlog will keep the line running at about 72 a year for two more years. At that point, the company plans to shrink to a steady 24 per year for as long as customers want them. Since dibs on most to-be-produced F-35 Joint Strike Fighters are set through the late 2010s, the F-16 could continue to sell for years to come. Besides that, more than 3,000 F-16s are in use worldwide today, and Lockheed expects a “healthy and viable” market for parts, overhauls, and upgrades for a long time. The F-16s now being delivered are expected to be in service another 25 years at least.
ACC Unveils New Way to Measure Readiness
May 9, 2025
Air Combat Command is changing how it measures and tracks readiness for its fleet of aircraft, with a top general saying the focus is on “simplicity” and better articulating what its wings need.