The F-16 fighter jet has been in service for fifty years, with a key role for the countries that use them. Military experts say this aircraft revolutionized modern air defense and with its versatility and ability to adapt, it remains the backbone of NATO and allied coalition war fleets.
The F-16 fighter jet, manufactured by the military industry company Lockheed Martin, is still in the spotlight five decades after its first flight. It is a symbol of the air power of the United States.
Originally designed as a light and agile aircraft, the F-16 has evolved over time into a coveted multi-role aircraft.
Recently, F-16 jets appeared in a spectacular parade at the world's largest military air show in Gloucestershire, Britain.
Orlando Sanchez Jnr is the vice president and general manager of Combat Aircraft Manufacturing at Lockheed Martin.
“We are here to mark 50 years of contribution to NATO and around the world”, he says.
In 1974, the F-16 made its first flight a month earlier than planned. Pilot Phil Oestricher climbed into the cockpit at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The intention was to make a short high-speed test on the ground, but it completed a dramatic six-minute flight before landing safely.
“The F-16 is a special aircraft because at its inception, it was designed to be flexible and for over 50 years it has proven to be adaptable. We have had over 142 versions of it and now 4,600 of them fly in 25 countries , it will soon be in the 26th place. The F-16 today is important for the security of the 21st century and NATO countries, as well as partner countries around the world.”
The aircraft has a key impact for NATO in Europe, where more than 700 are in operation, enabling many European countries to defend their airspace and be part of NATO's peacekeeping network.
Equipping the F-16s was one of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's requests, hoping it would give Ukraine a military advantage amid intense efforts to repel Russian aggression.
“The F-16 is really important to the NATO alliance, because not only is it the latest technology, which is important for today's war, but it brings together in an organic way all the NATO partnerships.” , says Mr. Sanchez.
The F-16 is manufactured at Lockheed Martin's facility in Greenville, South Carolina. The US and some NATO air forces are in the process of replacing the F-16s with another Lockheed-made fighter, the F-35, which offers next-generation combat air capabilities.
