DTN News: Lockheed's F-16 Remains Popular Even As Company Focuses On F-35

DTN News: Lockheed's F-16 Remains Popular Even As Company Focuses On F-35

*Sources: DTN News / Int'l Media / By Bob Cox Star Telegram (NSI News Source Info) PARIS, France - June 18, 2009: Lockheed Martin executives ventured to the Paris Air Show prepared to extol the virtues of the F-35 joint strike fighter that the company is developing, and they have. But the venerable F-16 still commands a large share of the limelight after more than 30 years in production. The F-16 is the largest Western jet fighter program with over 4,400 aircraft built since production was approved in 1976. Though no longer being bought by the U.S. Air Force, advanced versions are still being built for export customers. In 1993, General Dynamics sold its aircraft manufacturing business to the Lockheed Corporation, which in turn became part of Lockheed Martin after a 1995 merger with Martin Marietta.* And even as Lockheed officials pitched the F-35 and F-16 in Paris, some members of Congress were trying to keep yet another Lockheed plane flying. At the beginning of what will be a lengthy budget process, the House Armed Services Committee voted to require the Air Force to buy 12 more F-22 Raptor jets.

In a video conference interview Wednesday from the Lockheed chalet at Le Bourget Field in Paris, Ralph Heath, president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth, said he was surprised by "the profound interest in the F-16" at the international air show. Not too long ago, Lockheed officials had projected that F-16 production at the company’s Fort Worth factory would likely end around 2010. New orders trickled in until the projection was for 2013. Now, given the level of interest worldwide, Heath says F-16 production could extend through the next decade. During the interview Heath was drowned out several times by the roar of the daily F-16 flight demonstration, which is a typical breathtaking display of aerobatic maneuvers. In addition to orders already on Lockheed’s books, Heath said, three or four nations are studying buying F-16s. The biggest potential order pending is a long-developing plan by India to buy 126 aircraft. The F-16, the Boeing F-18 and several foreign jets are in competition. "Should we win that, plus a few additional orders, we could be looking at another 10 years of production of the F-16," Heath said. Questions about the F-16 in Paris this week "are not about when F-16 production will end, but what new technology can be introduced into the airplane," Heath said. There is even a chance, albeit a long shot, that the U.S. could buy more F-16s. Although the Pentagon has resisted all such suggestions, some members of Congress are pushing the Air Force and Navy to buy some new models of existing jets to augment perceived aircraft shortfalls. Heath said he doesn’t favor and wouldn’t recommend such a move, because it would divert government financial resources and industry attention from the F-35. "If it were my decision, which it is not, that is the trade-off," Heath said. Still, even with changes Lockheed has made at its plant to prepare for escalating rates of F-35 production in the next few years, Heath said the Fort Worth facility could handle a surge in new F-16 orders as it builds F-35s. Heath said Lockheed is well-prepared to ramp up F-35 production as U.S. purchases begin to accelerate over the next several years. "The biggest thing will be making sure our supply chain is taking steps to add their capacity," he said. Lockheed received an additional $75 million contract Wednesday to continue development work on F-35 components. Production in Fort Worth of the midfuselage of Lockheed’s F-22, which carries a $180 million price tag, is supposed to wind down next year. But the armed services panel voted 31-30 Wednesday to spend $369 million to continue F-22 production. That money, if appropriated by Congress in the fiscal 2010 defense budget, would buy parts for 12 additional planes. If F-22 production does tail off next year, as envisioned in the Obama administration’s proposed defense budget, Heath said Lockheed will be challenged to hang onto many skilled workers because two or more years will pass before they are needed to build F-35s. "This is one of our biggest management challenges, managing the work force. We have some unique talents and skills that would be lost. We’re trying to minimize that."