F-16I Purchase Largest In Israel's History

Lockheed-Martin has confirmed deliveries of the new F-16I to the Israel Air Force (IAF) will be delayed because of a strike at the plane’s production line in Texas.

Lockheed-Martin stated, “Delivery of the first plane to the IAF will be in mid-December, and before 2004.” Delivery was originally scheduled to begin in October.

The delay at the Lockheed Martin Aeronautics’ production line in Fort Worth is due to a strike for raises and improved conditions. Lockheed-Martin is currently building F-16Is for Israel and Greece, in addition to the future US interceptor. Lockheed-Martin tried to keep the production lines working at full capacity by using non-union labor, but the strike harmed the delivery timetable.

The F-16I purchase is the largest ever in Israel's history: 102 planes for $4.5 billion. This is the IDF’s sixth procurement of fighters, and is being financed from US military aid.

Lockheed-Martin will make reciprocal procurements amounting to a large proportion of the deal.

Special thanks to ANN Contributor Dave Bender in Jerusalem, Israel

FMI: www.idf.il/english/organization/iaf/iaf.stm