Roll out first Slovak F-16V
On 6 September 2023, the first Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených sil Slovenskej Republiky (SAF, Slovak Air Force) F-16C Block 70, serial 1001 (FMS 20-4001, construction/customer number EY-01), was rolled out at Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Greenville (SC).
Its maiden flight is expected by the end of September and the delivery of the first four aircraft, out of a total of fourteen, is expected in the second half of 2024. Slovakia will be the first European country using the latest version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
The Slovak Minister of Defense, Martin Sklenár, and a delegation including Slovak F-16 pilots attended the roll out. Sklenár said “I am very glad I had the opportunity to see the first fighter aircraft, which moves the air forces of the generation ahead, and along with it our defenses. Besides that, it is the largest investment project of the Slovak Republic in the modernisation of our armed forces, it is also about the opportunity to deepen the strategic partnership”.
Vice president of Lockheed Martin Tiller Sanchez said “These F-16s will allow the Air Force of the Slovak Republic to keep ahead of the threats in the region and be a part of both the mission in Europe within NATO and in the world”.
On 5 April 2018, Scramble Magazine reported on the US State Department determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale of fourteen F-16 Block 70 Fighting Falcons, also known as F-16V, engines, radars, guns, missiles, bombs, training of pilots and personnel and logistic services. Delivery of the first aircraft was originally expected for 2022, but the time-line has slipped one year.
Credit photo: Slovak Ministry of Defence