Slovakia’s First F-16 Block 70 Fighter Jet Has Been Unveiled
At an official event at the company’s production site in Greenville, South Carolina, Lockheed Martin unveiled the first F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft manufactured for Slovakia as part of the agreement signed in 2018. The event was attended by Slovak Defense Minister Martin Sklenár, Director of the Slovak Ministry of Defense Modernization Department and National Armaments Michal Homza, Lockheed Martin Integrated Fighter Group Vice President OJ Sanchez, and several Slovak statesmen and company employees.
Defense Minister Martin Sklenár said after the aircraft’s official unveiling at the Slovak F-16 Block 70 ceremony event, “I’m so very pleased I had the opportunity to see the first fighter jet that will take the Slovak Air Force forward by generations, as will the defense capability of our country. As well as being Slovakia’s biggest investment project in the modernisation of our Armed Forces, this is also an opportunity to deepen our strategic partnership.”
“These F-16s will enable the Slovak Air Force to stay ahead of threats in the region, and be part of the allied mission in Europe, NATO, and around the world,” said Lockheed Martin Integrated Fighter Group Vice President OJ Sanchez. In his speech, Sanchez also stated that the aircraft in question represents a strong partnership between Lockheed Martin, the United States, the Slovak Republic, and their allies.
The aircraft with the service registration number 1001 and the Slovak Republic emblem is the first of 14 F-16 Block 70 jets ordered by Slovakia from Lockheed Martin for $1.8 billion. Other than 12 single-seat F-16C fighter jets and two double-seat F-16D trainers, the agreement also covers training, ammunition, and logistics services for Slovak Air Force personnel. Slovakia’s first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet will begin test flights in November 2023 and will be delivered to the Slovak Air Force in the second quarter of 2024. The delivery of all aircraft is expected to continue until 2028.
With delivery expected in 2024, Slovakia will be the first European country to add the most advanced version of the F-16 fighter jet to its inventory. These aircraft will replace the Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets that Slovakia retired at the end of 2022 and later decided to donate to Ukraine. The decision to give the Kyiv administration 13 “MiG-29” fighter jets was approved by Slovakia’s parliament on March 17, and the first shipment of four units was made on March 23. The remaining nine aircraft were delivered to the Ukrainian Air Force by land in April.