The F-16 Block 42-52 aircraft’s planned service life has been extended by the USAF to 12,000 equivalent flight hours
The U.S. Air Force (USAF) allowed Lockheed Martin to extend the F-16 Block 42-52 aircraft’s planned service life to 12,000 equivalent flight hours on April 12, 2017.
The aircraft’s initial design service life was 8,000 hours, therefore this adds another 4,000 hours to it.
The F-16 Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) structural upgrades, according to the company press release, will enable each aircraft to continue flying until 2048 and beyond.
The Block 40-52 fleet’s estimated service life costs were also decreased by the Air Force and Lockheed Martin, setting the way for decades of safe and economical F-16 flight operations.
“This accomplishment is the result of more than seven years of test, development, design, analysis, and partnership between the U.S. Air Force and Lockheed Martin,” explained Susan Ouzts, vice president of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 program. “Combined with F-16 avionics modernization programs like the F-16V, SLEP modifications demonstrate that the Fighting Falcon remains a highly capable and affordable 4th Generation option for the U.S. Air Force and international F-16 customers.”
The SLEP goal of extending the service life of up to 300 F-16C/D Block 40-52 aircraft is directly aided by the validation of the increased flying hour restriction. In fact, when U.S. and ally combat air fleets recapitalize with F-35 Lightning IIs through SLEP and related avionics improvements, USAF F-16C/D fleet may safely and efficiently reinforce the current fighter force structure.
In the upcoming months, a Military Type Certificate (MTC) will be submitted to the Air Force’s Technical Airworthiness Authority and sought as part of the F-16 SLEP’s Part II airworthiness process. This extra stage aims to confirm that the operating life of the F-16 can be further extended based on the results of the extended durability testing.
With 28 customers worldwide, the F-16 continues to establish itself as the most effective, combat-tested multi-role fighter aircraft in the world, according to Lockheed Martin. Actually, the F-16 Block 70/72, the newest and most advanced F-16 production configuration, combines capability and structural upgrades to create the most advanced F-16 production aircraft ever offered. The F-16V, the latest F-16 avionics upgrade configuration, includes numerous enhancements designed to keep the F-16 at the forefront of international security.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. John P. Rohrer / U.S. Air National Guard and Senior Airman Chris Drzazgowski / U.S. Air Force
