The first F-16 Block 70/72 fuselage aft section, manufactured in Poland at PZL Mielec, has been installed on an upcoming aircraft. This development marks a significant step in the production process of the acclaimed fighter jet. According to a press release by PZL Mielec, the joining process involves precise alignment and secure attachment to the main fuselage, which is a critical step in assembly. The production of the rear fuselage was completed in August 2023 and subsequently sent to Greenville, South Carolina. This event underscores the increasing demand for new F-16 Fighting Falcons, prompting the US Air Force, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, to open a new production line for the F-16 Block 70/72 fighters in 2019.

The involvement of PZL Mielec, a Polish company owned by Lockheed Martin, was first announced in 2021, with the production of components for F-16s commencing in 2022. The plant completed work on the aft fuselage by August 2023, and these components are now part of the ongoing assembly in Greenville. In addition to producing new aircraft, the Greenville facility repairs and modernizes previously built fighters

ملخص الأخبار

• افتتح خط الإنتاج الجديد لطائرات F-16 بلوك 70/72 في عام 2019، ويُعتبر خط الإنتاج الوحيد في العالم حاليًا.
• تم اختبار أول مقاتلة F-16 منتجة في المصنع الجديد في يناير 2023، وهي نموذج ذو مقعدين صُنع للبحرين.
• تُشارك الشركة البولندية PZL Mielec بشكل مستمر في العمليات التكنولوجية مع لوكهيد مارتن، وتنتج أيضا طائرات S-70i Black Hawk.
• أول طائرة F-16 تم إصلاحها في المصنع الجديد سُلّمت إلى القوات الجوية الأمريكية في يناير 2012.