DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Raytheon Co., (Missile Systems) For The Procurement of 485 AIM-9X Block II For U.S. Military And Other Countries

DTN News - DEFENSE NEWS: U.S. DoD Awarded Contract To Raytheon Co., (Missile Systems)  For The Procurement of  485 AIM-9X Block II For U.S. Military And Other Countries

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by K. V. Seth + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-120-14 June 25, 2014
(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - June 25, 2014: Raytheon Co., Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, is being awarded a $223,081,894 fixed-price-incentive-firm contract for the procurement of 485 AIM-9X Block II All Up Round Tactical Low Rate Initial Production Lot 14.

Missiles for the U.S. Navy (161), U.S. Air Force (158), and the governments of Singapore (20), the Netherlands (28), Kuwait (1), and Turkey (117). In addition, this contract provides for the procurement of 132 Block II Captive Air Training Missiles for the U.S. Navy (47), U.S. Air Force (55), and the governments of the Netherlands (20), Singapore (8), and Morocco (2); 27 Special Air Training Missiles for the U.S. Navy (13), U.S. Air Force (12), and the government of the Netherlands (2); 180 All Up Round Containers for the U.S. Navy (59), U.S. Air Force (60), and the governments of the Netherlands (18), Morocco (1), Singapore (8), and Turkey (34); two Spare Advanced Optical Target Detectors for the governments of Singapore (1), and Morocco (1); 10 Spare Tactical Guidance Units for the governments of the Netherlands (2), Singapore (2), and Turkey (6); and seven Spare Captive Air Training Missile Guidance Units for the governments of the Netherlands (2), and Singapore (5). Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona (43.74 percent); Andover, Massachusetts (10.08 percent); Valencia, California (6.10 percent); Midland, Ontario, Canada (5.54 percent); Rocket Center, West Virginia (5.49 percent); Vancouver, Washington (5.07 percent); Goleta, California (2.86 percent); Cheshire, Connecticut (2.05 percent); Heilbronn, DE, Germany (1.88 percent); Simsbury, Connecticut (1.61 percent); Cincinnati, Ohio (1.22 percent); San Jose, California (1.48 percent); Anniston, Alabama (1.31 percent); Maniago, Italy (1.21 percent); Chatsworth, California (1.11 percent); San Diego, California (1.04 percent); Montgomery, Alabama (.60 percent); Orlando, Florida (.55 percent); Valencia, California (.53 percent); Newbury Park, California (.50 percent); El Segundo, California (.50 percent); Claremont, California (.43 percent); Joplin, Missouri (.39 percent); Lombard, Illinois (.28 percent); El Cajon, California (.15 percent); and various locations inside and outside the continental United States (3.98 and .30 percent, respectively). Work is expected to be completed in December 2016. 

Fiscal 2014 weapons procurement (Navy) and missile procurement (Air Force), as well as foreign military funds in the amount of $223,081,894 are being obligated at time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. 

This contract combines purchases for the U.S. Navy ($74,071,450; 33.20 percent); U.S. Air Force ($74,148,758; 33.24 percent); and the governments of Turkey ($46,902,085; 21.03 percent); the Netherlands ($16,471,972: 7.38 percent); Singapore ($10,574,904: 4.74 percent); Morocco ($522,442; .23 percent); and Kuwait ($390,283; .18 percent) under the Foreign Military Sales Program. This contract was not competitively procured pursuant to FAR 6.302-1. 


The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity (N00019-14-C-0053).

*Link for This article compiled by K. V. Seth from reliable sources + U.S. DoD issued No. CR-120-14 June 25, 2014
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*This article is being posted from Toronto, Canada By DTN News ~ Defense-Technology News Contact:dtnnews@ymail.com 
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DTN News - MOROCCO DEFENSE NEWS: Falcons Graced The Royal Moroccan Air Force Insignia

DTN News - MOROCCO DEFENSE NEWS: Falcons Graced The Royal Moroccan Air Force Insignia

**Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft, first 4 aircrafts another 3 aircarfts are in active duty of the 24 F-16 Fighting Falcons and is expected to receive the rest of the deliveries by 2013

Source: DTN News - - This article compiled by Roger Smith

(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - August 14, 2011:

Morocco is the latest U.S. partner nation to receive the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a historic event marked by a ceremony here Aug. 4.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force had 95 combat aircraft and 24 armed helicopters in 2006. On December 18, 2007 the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $2.4 billion. The Government of Morocco has requested a possible sale of 24 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft with either the F100-PW-229 or F110-GE-129 Increased Performance Engines (IPE) and APG-68(V)9 radars. The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by enhancing Morocco's capacity to support U.S. efforts in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), as well as supporting Morocco's legitimate need for its own self-defense. Morocco is one of the most stable and pro-Western of the Arab states, and the U.S. remains committed to a long-term relationship with Morocco. The proposed sale will allow the Moroccan Air Force to modernize its aging fighter inventory, thereby enabling Morocco to support both its own air defense needs and coalition operations. Morocco is a Major Non-NATO ally. Delivery of this weapon system will greatly enhance Morocco's interoperability with the U.S. and other NATO nations, making it a more valuable partner in an increasingly important area of the world. The country will have no difficulty absorbing this new capability into its armed forces.

On June 6, 2008 the United States government awarded Lockheed Martin an Undefinitized Contract Authorization (UCA) for the production of 24 Advanced F-16 Block 52 aircraft for Morocco, making the Kingdom of Morocco the 25th nation to select the F-16. Morocco will acquire a Block 52 configuration of the F-16C/D aircraft tailored to meet the specific requirements of the Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF). The Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine was selected by the Royal Moroccan Air Force to power their new fleet of F-16 Block 52 aircraft. The engine program, sold through the U.S. Government's Foreign Military Sales program, is valued at approximately $170 million and is scheduled for delivery in 2010 and 2011.

On September 9, 2009 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Morocco of F-16 C/D Block 50/52 aircraft support equipment and weapons at an estimated cost of $187 million. The Government of Morocco has requested a possible sale of 40 LAU-129A Launchers; 20 AGM-65D MAVERICK Missiles; four AGM-65D MAVERICK Training Missiles; four AGM-65H MAVERICK Training Missiles; 60 Enhanced GBU-12 PAVEWAY II Kits; 28 M61 20mm Vulcan Cannons; 28 AN/ARC-238 Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radios with HAVEQUICK I/II or SATURN I/II.

Lockheed Martin was awarded an $841.9 million contract 22 December 2009 to complete production of 24 new F-16 fighters for Morocco, as well as for electronic-warfare gear and support equipment. The contract builds on an initial $233 million award the company received in June 2008 to begin production of the aircraft. Morocco selected the F-16 in 2007, picking the U.S. aircraft over the Rafale. Morocco is the 25th nation to buy the F-16, the world's most widely flown jet fighter.

On October 13, 2009 Hawker Beechcraft sold 24 Beechcraft T-6C trainers to the Royal Moroccan Air Force. The $185.3 million contract includes the aircraft, technical and logistics support and other services. The Royal Moroccan Air Force is the launch customer for the T-6C aircraft, an improved version of the T-6A Texan II. The T-6C will replace Morocco's T-34 basic trainers and Cessna T-37 jet trainers.

The Royal Moroccan Air Force has operational bases in Rabat-Salé, Meknès, Kenitra, and Sidi Slimane and a training base in Marrakech. In the 1980s the main operating bases for fighters were at Meknes (F-5 unit) and Sidi Slimane (Mirage F-1 unit). Both bases were well maintained ; both had unused flightline and maintenance capacities. And Sidi Slimane had 24 hardened aircraft shelters that rival those of any air force in the world. The RMAF's command center at Sald, built by Westinghouse Corporation at a cost of about $240 million, is the hub of a very modern air defense system that blankets all of Morocco. Radar stations throughout the country feed into the Sal6 center where operators track air movements throughout the nation. All the equipment at the center is operated by Moroccans (but some Westinghouse technicians remain as advisors and troubleshooters).

Although Presidents Truman and Eisenhower supported the concept of Moroccan independence, they were both much more concerned with the emergence of the Cold War and the necessity for maintaining a good relationship with France which had reasserted its political control in the region. In 1951, the U.S. signed an agreement with the French to establish four U.S. Strategic Air Command bases in Morocco. The U.S. strongly supported Morocco's independence which came in 1956, but the bases agreement between the U.S. and France remained a sore point between the U.S. and Morocco until a 1959 agreement between the two countries led to the evacuation of the four bases in the early sixties and several smaller communications sites in the late seventies.

The Reagan administration, in need of secure air base facilities to support possible Mideast operations, courted King Hassan and has sent an ambassador to Rabat to assure the monarch that "he can count on us." In 1987 the Moroccan government agreed to the use of an old abandoned U.S.Strategic Air Command Base at Ben Guérir as a transoceanic abort landing (TAL) site for NASA's space shuttle during emergencies. On the military side, Morocco signed agreements with the U.S. government allowing U.S. forces access and transit rights at several Moroccan Air Force bases. This agreement included various military construction projects toupgrade and develop facilities for possible contingencies.

The new Block 52 aircraft will supplement the Royal Moroccan Air Force's existing fleet of fighter aircraft and will contribute to the upgrade and modernization of the country's military. Senior U.S. military officials attended to mark the event and strengthen the relationship between the two countries' air forces, which includes a state partnership program with the Utah Air National Guard that began in 2003. The relationship between the U.S. and Morocco can be traced back a few hundred years when Morocco became the first country to recognize the U.S. as an independent nation. Senior Moroccan officials, as well as Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, reiterated the close partnership between the two nations during the ceremony. "I'm here to salute our partnership which we so highly value," Schwartz said. "The friendship between the U.S. and Moroccan militaries is founded on mutual respect, and I am thrilled to be here as you accept the first F-16s into your aircraft inventory." Officials from U.S. Africa Command and its air component, Air Forces Africa, were also in attendance for the occasion. "It's an incredible honor for me to be here for the first delivery of the F-16s to the Royal Moroccan Air Force," said Maj. Gen. Margaret Woodward, the Air Forces Africa commander. "We have a wonderful relationship with the RMAF, but being able to fly the same airplane will just increase our opportunity to work together. "For the United States and the Moroccans, this is a banner day and a great opportunity to increase both of our capacities and strategic partnership," she added. The U.S. is helping to train Morocco's new F-16 pilots, teaching them not only how to fly the aircraft, but also how to teach others, explained Lt. Col. Charles Blank, the 152nd Fighter Squadron commander from the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson, Ariz. Blank worked with the Moroccans during pilot training in Tucson, and saw firsthand the dedication and commitment of the Moroccan pilots. "The Moroccans are very professional," he said. "They are very positive, well-trained, and eager to get the job done. They will do well." Training and delivery of the fighter aircraft took approximately two years as the U.S. and Moroccan air forces worked together, Blank said. Woodward also commented on the achievements of the new F-16 pilots, one of whom received the distinguished graduate award at training and "stood out as one of the best in the class." "These pilots are doing an exceptional job in training," she said. "I'm really excited about this progress and the opportunity to expand an already strong military-to-military partnership. Some of these pilots will come back to Morocco and set up a training program to train future pilots in the F-16, and they will receive the same training as our own in the U.S. Air Force." The RMAF pilots chosen for the program have years of experience in other aircraft and are some of the air force's very best, according to Moroccan officials. Morocco is the 25th nation to receive the F-16. More than 4,400 aircraft have been delivered worldwide from assembly lines in five countries, according to a Lockheed Martin press release.

Royal Moroccan Air Force F-16s - Images

http://www.f-16.net/gallery

The first Moroccan F-16C block 52 #08-8001, seen here on September 21st, 2010, is scheduled to fly in the fall of 2010. Morocco, the 25th nation to operate the F-16, ordered twenty-four block 52 aircraft in 2009. The two-tone light brown scheme with grey underside is unique to...	The first Moroccan F-16C block 52 #08-8001, seen here on September 21st, 2010, is scheduled to fly in the fall of 2010. Morocco, the 25th nation to operate the F-16, ordered twenty-four block 52 aircraft in 2009. The two-tone light brown scheme with grey underside is unique to...	The first Moroccan F-16C block 52 #08-8001, seen here on September 21st, 2010, is scheduled to fly in the fall of 2010. Morocco, the 25th nation to operate the F-16, ordered twenty-four block 52 aircraft in 2009. The two-tone light brown scheme with grey underside is unique to...
RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8017 takes flight on November 10th, 2010. [Photo by Carl Richards]	RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8018 comes into land at NAS Fort Worth on December 14th, 2010. [Photo by Scott Fischer]	RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8019 is spotted during a test flight at Lockheed Martin from NAS Fort Worth on February 14th, 2011. [Photo by Zane Adams]
RMAF F-16C block 52 #08-8004 with callsign 'Viper 04' is spotted on short finals to runway 35 at NAS Fort Worth on February 28th, 2011. [Photo by Sebastiaan Does]	RMAF F-16C block 52 #08-8003 is touching down on the runway at NAS Fort Worth in February of 2011. [Photo by Scott Fischer]	RMAF F-16D block 52 #08-8020 is seen at NAS Fort Worth during a test flight on March 9th, 2011. The airframe is part of the order for 24 brandnew F-16 block 52s for the RMAF. [Photo by Piet Luijken]

*Link for This article compiled by Roger Smith

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DTN News: Lockheed To Build 24 F-16 Fighter Jets For Morocco At $842 Millions

DTN News: Lockheed To Build 24 F-16 Fighter Jets For Morocco At $842 Millions *Source: DTN News / Defense Media (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, USA - December 23, 2009: Lockheed Martin is being awarded an $841.9 million contract to produce 24 F-16 aircraft for Morocco, which ordered the jets in 2008, the Pentagon said Dec. 22. Lockheed also won contracts to supply the Pentagon with "advanced counter measure system electronic warfare system, along with associated support equipment, alternate mission equipment and support elements," the Pentagon said in a statement. The total value of the contract between the United States and Morocco is estimated about $2.4 billion, not all of which will be handled by Lockheed. Other firms that manufacture or supply parts and equipment or can train technicians will share in the contract. The Rafale jet produced by France's Dassault was among those that competed for the Moroccan contract. Dassault has yet to sell any of the aircraft abroad, but French Defense Minister Herve Morin said last week he remained "resolutely optimistic" about the possibilities of exporting Rafale, Dassault Aviation's "multirole" combat jet. "We are having advanced discussion with the United Arab Emirates, Brazil and also other partners," Morin told France's La Tribune newspaper.

DTN News: Moroccan Air Force Asks For US F-16 Weapons And Equipment

DTN News: Moroccan Air Force Asks For US F-16 Weapons And Equipment

*Source: DTN News / Int'l Media (NSI News Source Info) WASHINGTON, DC - September 18, 2009: The Moroccan Air Force has requested equipment and weapon systems for its F-16 C/D block 50/52 aircraft under a US foreign military sale. Morocco requested the sale of 24 F-16C/D block 50/52 aircraft. The deal includes the aircraft, mission equipment and a support package provided by Lockheed Martin and other US and international contractors. The Royal Moroccan Air Force (RMAF) placed a $233.6m order in June 2008. Morocco is a major non-Nato ally of the US and the sale will enhance Morocco's interoperability with the US and other Nato nations. The procurement includes 20 AGM-65D Maverick missiles, four each of AGM-65D and AGM-65H Maverick training missiles and 60 enhanced GBU-12 Paveway II kits. Furthermore, 28 AN/ARC-238 single-channel ground and airborne radios with Havequick I/II or Saturn I/II, a ground-based simulator and 40 LAU-118A missile rails will also be provided under the contract. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has already approved a request for six AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pods with ground station and 16 air combat manoeuvring instrumentation pods with four ground stations. the defence agency has also approved eight joint mission planning systems, two remote operated video enhanced receivers, 30 AN/ALR-93 radar warning receivers and 30 AN/AVS-9 night vision goggles. Under the proposed sale, support equipment and services will also be provided to the air force. The DSCA has identified about ten contractors for the sale including Lockheed, Northrop, Boeing and BAE Systems.

Moroccan AF Prepares For F-16 Operations / Luke Airmen Advise Moroccan Air Force On F-16 Operations

Moroccan AF Prepares For F-16 Operations / Luke Airmen Advise Moroccan Air Force On F-16 Operations

(NSI News Source Info) LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. - March 20, 2009: Members of the Royal Moroccan air force traveled 6,000 miles to speak with Luke Air Force Base Airmen and tour the installation for an insider's perspective on how an F-16 Fighting Falcon base operates in mid-March.

Royal Moroccan air force officials are in the process of building an F-16 base in their home country and they met with American Airmen to learn the maintenance and operational side of the aircraft.

"These guys are getting a squadron of F-16s in the near future and they are going to stand up an F-16 base from the ground up," said Capt. Matthew Kucia, the 425th Fighter Squadron standardization and evaluations officer. "They are not just putting F-16s on an existing base; they are building the entire infrastructure."

Captain Kucia said the Moroccan team decided to come to Luke AFB since it is the largest F-16 wing in the world with more than 180 jets. They wanted to see how the base integrates the jets, base operations and maintenance. He also said the team will visit the 162nd Fighter Wing in Tucson, Ariz., since that is where international F-16 training is conducted.

Royal Moroccan air force Col. M'hamed Saufi said the visit has been very helpful for him and his fellow airmen.

"Our base will be different in that it will be small compared to Luke," Colonel Saufi said. "The number of technicians and pilots will not be the same since we will have fewer facilities. But we can apply Luke's organizational points of view and the maintenance procedures applied to the aircraft, especially how to handle the foreign object debris on the field and the maintenance of the fleet."

Colonel Saufi said the most interesting aspect he saw at Luke AFB is the infrastructure and the organization, especially in the maintenance squadron, civil engineer and readiness supply section.

"I am amazed at all the questions they're asking," said 1st Lt. Kevin Mauersberg, the 310th Aircraft Maintenance Unit officer in charge. "The questions are spot-on, so they've done their homework. It's good to hear what they're asking. It tells me that they're engaged, and we're giving them the right information."

"Morocco is one of the United States' oldest and closest allies in Africa," said Brig. Gen. Kurt F. Neubauer, the 56th Fighter Wing commander. "It was great to be able to share information with members of a country that has many of the same ideals as the United States concerning conflict resolution, counterterrorism cooperation and public outreach."

Russia Begins To Capture New Arab Arms Markets - Reports

Russia Begins To Capture New Arab Arms Markets - Reports

(NSI News Source Info) MOSCOW - February 22, 2009: Russia is beginning to capture new arms markets of Arab countries that were earlier oriented to the West, the head of the Russian Federal Service for Military and Technical Cooperation said. "Russia is beginning to enter new armaments markets where our presence was previously considered as hardly probable. In particular, some Persian Gulf countries, including Qatar and Kuwait, are displaying certain interest in the development of military and technical cooperation," Mikhail Dmitriyev said on the eve of an international defense exhibition opening on Sunday in the United Arab Emirates. The Idex-2009 international defense exhibition and conference will take place in Abu Dhabi from February 22 through 26. Russian military systems and technology will be exhibited over an area of 546 square meters, including 84 square meters to be used to showcase the latest developments in Russian ammunition. At the same time, Russia has signed and is implementing large-scale deals with Algeria, stepped up cooperation with Libya and Syria, he said. "We are switching to the establishment of partnership relations and cooperation within the general policy of developing and strengthening versatile contacts with the Arab and Islamic world." Russia exported $8 billion worth of armaments and military hardware in 2008 and is planning to increase arms exports by 6% to $8.5 billion in 2009. The most popular types of weaponry bought from Russia are Sukhoi and MiG fighters, warships, air defense systems, helicopters, battle tanks, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. Russia exports weapons to over 80 countries. Among the key buyers of Russian-made weaponry are China, India, Algeria, Venezuela, Iran, Malaysia and Serbia.

F-16 Seen As Still Competitive, Has Backlog Of 215 Orders / Lockheed Martin's F-16 Still Competitive In Fighter Market

F-16 Seen As Still Competitive, Has Backlog Of 215 Orders / Lockheed Martin's F-16 Still Competitive In Fighter Market

(NSI News Source Info) NEWTOWN, Conn. - January 30, 2009: The Lockheed Martin F-16 has been continually upgraded since production began decades ago, and the latest Block 50/52 and Block 60/E/F variants remain highly capable and affordable multirole fighters. Lockheed Martin received an order from Morocco at the end of 2007, snatching the 24-aircraft order away from Dassault's Rafale in a last minute effort.

Lockheed Martin is able to be aggressive on pricing the F-16, and as in prior years the purchase of F-16s is one way of increasing a nation’s ties with the American defense establishment.

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force. Designed as a lightweight fighter, it evolved into a successful multirole aircraft. The Falcon's versatility is a paramount reason it has proven a success on the export market, having been selected to serve in the air forces of 25 nations. The F-16 is the largest Western jet fighter program with over 4,400 aircraft built since production was approved in 1976.

Other recent customers include Turkey, which executed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for 30 aircraft during 2007 (consisting of 14 single-seat C models and 16 two-seat Ds). The Turkish aircraft will be assembled and delivered by TUSAS beginning in 2011. The new aircraft will replace about half the TuAF's elderly F-4 fleet in the near term as the service waits for the new Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II to arrive on the scene.

Greece ordered 30-unit Block 52+ F-16s in December 2005, but the Greek government later announced that it would not be exercising a 10-aircraft option under the deal and would be looking elsewhere to fill an ongoing requirement for another 30 fighters.

The Pakistani Air Force has ordered 18 new fighters through the Pentagon's Foreign Military Sales program at the end of 2007. The order is part of a bigger deal to upgrade the PAF's existing fleet of A/B model F-16s. Pakistan took an option to purchase an additional 18 fighters under the deal. Pakistan may exercise these options, but funding the purchase will be difficult at the same time the PAF is purchasing large numbers of Chengdu FC-1s. Ongoing political turmoil in the country could also cause further deliveries of F-16s to be blocked by the U.S. government. Israel noted back in mid-2005 that it was considering additional purchases F-16 fighters if the F-35 program were to suffer further delays. Israel has also made noises about cutting its requirement for F-35s than expected.

Taiwan has long been expected to order 66 F-16s as part of an effort to recapitalize a portion of its fighter fleet, but domestic political wrangling has held up the process, along with the Bush administration's seeming ambivalence to the deal. Washington is currently looking to China to cooperate on a number of security issues, including efforts to end the nuclear threat posed by North Korea. The Taiwanese Air Force's plan to order 66 new F-16s will likely never reach fruition.

The F-16 also is in the running for a potentially huge order by the Indian Air Force, which issued a long-awaited Request for Proposals in August 2007 to fill a requirement for 126-200 new multirole fighters. The Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft program is intended to replace many of the service's elderly MiG-21s. Competing against the F-16 are the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, the Dassault Rafale, the MiG-35, and the Saab Gripen. Among the Western-built aircraft, the F-16 and Gripen are single-engined fighters that provide a “low-cost” alternative to the heavier, twin-engined Super Hornet and Rafale. The MiG-35 is a follow-on to the MiG-29, which is already in service with the IAF.

The RFP was not made available to the public, and it is not clear from the outside what factors the IAF considers most important in selecting a new fighter. In making its selection, India can be expected to be wary of offending long-time supplier Russia, but the nation is currently in a period of warming relations with the U.S. government, and U.S. recognition of India's right to develop its nuclear facilities may be rewarded by a large aircraft purchase.

Elsewhere, Lockheed Martin notes that “several customers” are showing high interest in the F-16E/F (formerly the Block 60 model developed for the United Arab Emirates), but many nations that would offer the best prospects for a new order are the same nations Lockheed Martin believes will be drawn to the F-35.

The F-35 was designed with the idea of supplanting the F-16 as the pre-eminent “affordable” multirole fighter in the western and Asian defense markets. Looking ahead, and Lockheed Martin may find itself in the same position as Dassault when the latter was offering customers both the Mirage 2000 and Rafale at the same time. Offering two aircraft that compete against each other may become an undesirable position for Lockheed Martin, or the F-16 may continue to be offered to customers that cannot afford the expected higher cost of the F-35.

Forecast International's projections call for production of the F-16 out to 2016, but additional orders could well extend production out several more years.

Eastern Europe has shown an affinity for cheap, single-engine fighters in recent years as countries in the region look to meet NATO responsibilities without breaking their limited defense budgets. Romania and Bulgaria is reported to be interested in acquiring 16 fighters, and the F-16 and Gripen are prime contenders for orders from these nations. Romania is looking for 48 fighters to replace 100 MiG-21s in its inventory. Funding is an obstacle, however. The near-term costs of the acquisition could be reduced by purchasing a mixture of new and refurbished aircraft or signing a lease deal.

The continuing interest in Lockheed Martin's F-16 is keeping GE and Pratt & Whitney busy building F110 and F100 engines for export orders, while both companies are developing engines for 5th generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35.

Overall, production during the 2009-2018 forecast period is projected to total 215 aircraft.