Chief of Staff of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Armed Forces Lt. Gen. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and his delegation visited Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth plant on May 23 to review the status of the UAE F-16 program.
The visit included a program status briefing, a tour of the Block 60 program area and a demonstration in the Block 60 F-16 flight simulator. During a tour of the factory, the delegation observed that the forward, center and aft fuselage sections of the first UAE F-16 are in final assembly.
The delegation also was able to meet with Lockheed Martin executives and with UAE pilots and project team members residing in the United States.
The UAE selected the F-16 in an intense competition in 1998, and in June 2000, the program was officially launched. The UAE has ordered 80 Block 60 F- 16s, which will be delivered during 2004-2006. The first aircraft will roll out later this year and begin extensive flight testing. Engine flight-testing already has begun.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, a business area of Lockheed Martin, is involved in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Headquartered in Bethesda, Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced technology systems, products and services. Lockheed Martin had 2002 sales of $26.6 billion. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
