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Israel Signs Contract For Purchase of 50 Lockheed Martin F-16s

Fort Worth, Texas, January 14th, 2000 -- Lockheed Martin received a contract today to produce 50 F-16 aircraft for the government of Israel. The contract awarded by the U.S. Department of Defense completes negotiations that began after Israel's July selection of the advanced F-16 as its new fighter, and follows a letter of acceptance signed between the two countries in September.

The total program, including the aircraft, mission equipment and a support package, is worth about $2.5 billion to Lockheed Martin, various suppliers and U.S. government agencies. The agreement provides Israel an option to purchase 60 additional aircraft that would bring the total program value to $4.5 billion, if exercised for the full 110 aircraft.

Israel is acquiring an advanced version of the aircraft that includes video data link equipment and Conformal Fuel Tanks manufactured by Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI); advanced avionics and a helmet-mounted display manufactured by Elbit; an advanced electronic warfare suite manufactured by Elisra; advanced weapons and sensors manufactured by Rafael; and other improved systems. IAI, Cyclone and other Israeli companies will continue their long tradition of producing F-16 airframe and system components.

All of the 50 F-16s will be two-seat versions powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 engine.

Deliveries of the new aircraft will begin in early 2003 and continue about three years. The term of aircraft deliveries will be extended until late in the next decade if Israel exercises the option for 60 additional F-16s.

The contract signature caps off a year in which F-16 purchases were also announced by Greece, Egypt and the U.S. Air Force. Details also continue to be worked on the potential sale of 80 Block 60 F-16 aircraft to the United Arab Emirates.

Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems is a leader in the design, development, systems integration and support of fighter aircraft. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. LMTAS employs approximately 11,000 people at facilities in Fort Worth, Texas, and is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation.

Kathryn Hayden
(817) 763-4084
e-mail: kathryn.a.hayden@lmco.com