Slovakia receives first two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets

11 January, 2024 A two-seater version of the F-16 Block 70 fighter jet with the tail number "1101" of the Slovak Air Force. Photo credits: Lockheed Martin The Slovak Air Force received the first two newest Lockheed Martin F-16V Block 70 fighter jets.

This was announced on the company's official website. The first two F-16V Viper aircraft took off from Lockheed Martin's airfield in Greenville, South Carolina, where they were undergoing factory tests and making test flights. The manufacturer confirmed the system's serviceability, as well as compliance with the flight characteristics of the new aircraft, which will arrive in Slovakia in mid-2024.

A two-seater version of the F-16 Block 70 fighter jet with the tail number "1101" of the Slovak Air Force.

Photo credits: Lockheed Martin

For now, the aircraft will be used for training Slovak pilots. Earlier, in April 2023, Nadporuchik (Senior Lieutenant - ed.) Lukas Kudela became the first Slovak to fly an F-16 fighter jet. The flight took place on April 23 under the supervision of the instructor of the 162nd Wing of the Arizona Air National Guard at a base near the city of Tucson.

After that, three more pilots of the Slovak Air Force made similar introductory flights. According to the contract signed between Lockheed Martin and the Slovak Ministry of Defense, the country will purchase 14 F-16V Block 70 aircraft to replace obsolete MiG-29 fighter jets. The production of the contracted number of aircraft will continue until 2025, which will provide the Slovak Air Force with better capabilities in the short term to ensure air defense and participation in international operations led by NATO.

A two-seater version of the F-16 Block 70 fighter jet with the tail number "1101" of the Slovak Air Force.

Photo credits: Lockheed Martin

According to the plan, the new combat aircraft will be part of the 1st Fighter Squadron, 81st Aviation Wing at Sliac Air Base. Militarnyi previously reported that the Republic of China was completing the modernization of the F-16 fighter fleet to the F-16V Viper standard. The Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation (AIDC) of Taiwan is completing upgrades to a fleet of 142 F-16 Block 20 fighter jets.

They are being upgraded to the new F-16V (F-16 Block.70/72) Viper standard within the Peace Phoenix Rising program.

The last four F-16Vs (tail numbered 6605, 6607, 6604, 6621) will have their modernization work completed by the end of January 2024.