An F-16 Block 72 fighter jet produced by Lockheed Martin has completed its first flight in Greenville, South Carolina, for the Royal Moroccan Air Force.
The defense news portal TWZ reported that the two-seat aircraft took off in Greenville as the most advanced version of the F-16 fighter jet built to date.
The newly constructed fighter jet received an AN/APG-83 Scalable Agile Beam Radar, known as SABR, along with a Link 16 tactical communications system.
Lockheed Martin is an American aerospace and defense corporation that manufactures advanced military hardware. Its manufacturing facility in Greenville, South Carolina, serves as the primary assembly location for new-production F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The AN/APG-83 SABR radar is an active electronically scanned array system designed by Northrop Grumman to give fourth-generation fighters fifth-generation target tracking capabilities, while Link 16 is a secure tactical data network used across NATO and allied military forces to share real-time operational information.
Engine specifications and aircraft variants
The main difference between the F-16 Block 70 variant and the Block 72 variant lies in their engine propulsion systems. The Block 70 version relies on a General Electric F110-GE-129 power unit. By contrast, the Block 72 variant is powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine, which provides slightly more power.
Pratt & Whitney and General Electric Aerospace are leading defense suppliers that manufacture jet engines for commercial and military aircraft worldwide. The Pratt & Whitney F100 series engine features digital electronic controls and upgraded thrust performance. The Royal Moroccan Air Force, the military aviation branch of the Kingdom of Morocco in North Africa, contracted for the new Block 72 aircraft to modernize its existing fighter fleet, which already operates earlier variants of the F-16 Fighting Falcon for national air defense.
F-16 operational challenges and attrition
The maiden flight comes as reports highlight growing maintenance challenges facing F-16 aircraft deployed in active war zones. Citing a source, The Wall Street Journal reported that a majority of the F-16 fighter jets belonging to Kyiv have broken down, warning that Ukraine could be left without operational aircraft by the end of the year.
In September, the Telegram channel Voennaya Khronika reported that the active deployment of Russian Geran family kamikaze drones has led to an accelerated failure rate among Ukrainian F-16 fighters.
Ukraine received batches of fourth-generation F-16 fighters from European NATO allies following Russia's invasion of the country. Modern jet fighters require intensive ground maintenance, specialised replacement parts, and protected airfield infrastructure to maintain flight readiness. Frequent loitering munition strikes and heavy operational demands can rapidly strain logistics networks, causing unscheduled aircraft breakdowns when replacement components and maintenance crews are in short supply.
