;GENAKLIS AIR BASE, Egypt---Four new Block 40 F-16Cs marked the start of new deliveries of the Fighting Falcon in ceremonies over the weekend for the Egyptian Air Force. The aircraft delivered today are part of the Peace Vector V program announced in 1996 for additional Block 40 F-16C/Ds.
"Today we realize another great milestone in the long history of the Egyptian Air Force F-16 Program,'' said William, B. Anderson, vice president of F-16 Programs for Lockheed Martin, during the ceremony. "The F-16 weapon system is a cornerstone of the Egyptian Air Force's modernization program which has enabled the Egyptian Air Force to maintain peace through strength.''
Including this purchase, Egypt has now purchased a total of 196 F-16s. The initial F-16 program for Egypt began with deliveries in 1982. In August of this year, Egypt also signed a contract for an additional 24 Block 40 F-16C/D aircraft.
The ceremonies to mark the delivery of the Peace Vector V F-16 aircraft included participation by the Egyptian Air Force, represented by Air Marshal Ahmed Shafik, Commander-in-Chief of the air force, and representatives from the U.S. Government and Lockheed Martin.
Lockheed Martin now has 40 follow-on buys of the F-16. These follow-on buys have been made by customers in 14 countries.
The delivery of the F-16 aircraft to Egypt builds on an impressive year for the F-16. New Zealand recently signed agreements to acquire 28 F-16s to become the 20th user. In addition to the 24 additional aircraft ordered by Egypt earlier this year, orders for approximately 200 more aircraft have been announced by the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Greece and Israel. To date, more than 3,900 have been delivered to the air forces of 19 countries.
The F-16 is the backbone of allied force operations in the 1990s, including the 1991 Gulf War, recent air campaign in the Kosovo crisis and peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and Iraq.
A leader in the design, development, systems integration and support of fighter aircraft, Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems employs approximately 11,000 people at facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, and is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation Headquartered in Bethesda, Md.
