F-16 around the world

Just one week after awarding Lockheed Martin a contract to begin manufacturing an order of 18 F-16s for Iraq, the Pentagon on Monday said it plans to allow Iraq to buy a second batch of the fighter jets.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency officially informed Congress that it plans to allow the sale of 18 more F-16s to Iraq, including spare engines, radar and high-tech communications gear and an assortment of bombs and missiles.

The total package would cost Iraq about $2.3 billion.

The planned sale, if completed, would further assure the continued operations of Lockheed Martin's F-16 production line in west Fort Worth and provide work for many subcontractors, including some in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Lockheed officials, who earlier this year were warning that they would build out their existing F-16 order book by the end of 2013, have said the first Iraq order would extend production into 2015. First deliveries of the initial order will be in 2013.

Lockheed issued a statement Monday saying it is pleased with the announcement and "will work with the U.S. government and the Government of Iraq" to schedule production of both orders.

The Pentagon's notification of the planned F-16 sale gives Congress 30 days to act to block it.

In addition to Iraq, Lockheed officials have said they expect a follow-up order soon from Oman and are actively scouting for other potential foreign orders for F-16s.

This year, Lockheed was eliminated from a 125-plane competition in India, and the Obama administration denied the sale of 66 new planes to Taiwan.
About 2,000 workers in Fort Worth build the mid- and forward fuselage for the F-16 and perform final assembly.
Bob Cox, 817-390-7723