Jordan to receive eight new production F-16 Block 70 fighter jets

Middle East, News, US June 20, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Jordan ordered eight new production F-16 Block 70 fighter jets after signing a letter of offer and acceptance with Lockheed Martin.

The signing ceremony was attended by Jordan’s Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Armed Forces Commander Major General Yousef Al-Hnaity and Royal Jordanian Air Force Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Hiyasat.

According to the statement released by the U.S. defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin, the selection of new production F-16 fighter jets extends the middle eastern country’s existing fleet of F-16s, “bringing advanced capabilities to the mission combined with affordable operating and lifecycle costs.” Jordan’s new F-16s will be built in Greenville, South Carolina.

Vice President at Lockheed Martin Integrated Fighter Group Business Development, Aimee Burnett said “This F-16 acquisition reflects over 70 years of U.S. cooperation and decades of partnership with Lockheed Martin.”

“Our history partnering with Jordan strengthens regional security and helps protect citizens through 21st Century Security technologies that support critical missions today and into the future,” Burnett added.

^{U.S. defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin delivered the first F-16 fighter jet to the U.S. Air Force on January 28, 2022, as part of the F-16 Sustainment Depot program. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin/Thinh D. Nguyen)}

Earlier this year in February, the U.S. administration approved the $4.21 billion worth of sale of 16 F-16 fighter aircraft and related equipment to Jordan. The weapons package included various arms and systems for the fighter jets, including 100 KMU-556 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) tail kits for 907 kilograms GBU-31 bombs, 102 KMU-572 JDAM tail kits for 226 kilograms-class laser JDAM GBU-54 bombs, 6 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods, 72 LAU-129 missile rail launchers, 21 M61A1 Vulcan cannons, 200 MK-84 or BLU-117 or equivalent bomb bodies, 204 MK-82 or BLU-111 or equivalent bomb bodies, ammunition, smoke flares, and flare cartridges.

In addition, Jordan also seeks to acquire 31 Link 16 Low-Volume Terminals for both aircraft and ground stations, radars, mission computers, GPS navigation systems with anti-spoofing modules, and multiple other pieces of equipment.

According to Lockheed Martin, the F-16 Block 70 fighter aircraft features advanced avionics, Active Electronically Scanned Array radar, a modernized cockpit, advanced weapons, conformal fuel tanks, an automatic ground collision avoidance system, one of the most advanced engines, and extended structural service life of 12,000 hours.

At present, more than 3,000 F-16 fighter jets are currently being operated by the air forces of 25 countries.