ANKARA - Lockheed Martin and its Turkish partner, Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), delivered on May 23 the first of a batch of 30 F-16 Block 50 fighter aircraft to the Turkish Air Force, a procurement official said May 25.
Turkey and Lockheed Martin in 2007 signed a $1.8 billion agreement for the 30 advanced jet fighters. The deliveries are scheduled to be completed by late 2012. Lockheed Martin built the first plane and TAI assembled it at its facilities in Akinci, near Ankara. TAI also carried out the first flight tests for the first aircraft.
Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and the U.S. ambassador to Ankara, Francis Ricciardone, attended a ceremony for the delivery of the first Block 50 aircraft.
In the 1980s and 1990s, TAI assembled more than 200 F-16 aircraft. Lockheed is modernizing more than 100 of these aircraft at a cost of more than $1 billion.
TAI also is prime contractor for Turkey's ambitious attack and utility helicopter programs to be built with Italy's AgustaWestland and U.S. Sikorsky, respectively.
A member of the U.S.-led multinational F-35 consortium, Turkey is planning to buy about 100 of these new-generation fighters until late 2015 when the F-35s are planned to begin joining the Turkish inventory. Ankara is due to buy the F-16 Block 50 fighters as a stopgap solution.
Turkey and Lockheed Martin in 2007 signed a $1.8 billion agreement for the 30 advanced jet fighters. The deliveries are scheduled to be completed by late 2012. Lockheed Martin built the first plane and TAI assembled it at its facilities in Akinci, near Ankara. TAI also carried out the first flight tests for the first aircraft.
Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul and the U.S. ambassador to Ankara, Francis Ricciardone, attended a ceremony for the delivery of the first Block 50 aircraft.
In the 1980s and 1990s, TAI assembled more than 200 F-16 aircraft. Lockheed is modernizing more than 100 of these aircraft at a cost of more than $1 billion.
TAI also is prime contractor for Turkey's ambitious attack and utility helicopter programs to be built with Italy's AgustaWestland and U.S. Sikorsky, respectively.
A member of the U.S.-led multinational F-35 consortium, Turkey is planning to buy about 100 of these new-generation fighters until late 2015 when the F-35s are planned to begin joining the Turkish inventory. Ankara is due to buy the F-16 Block 50 fighters as a stopgap solution.
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