Lockheed Martin has announced the successful first flight of the Royal Moroccan Air Force’s (RMAF) first F-16 Block 72 aircraft, a key milestone as the aircraft progresses through flight testing toward first delivery. The F-16 Block 72 is the newest and most advanced variant of the Fighting Falcon, equipped with modernised avionics, advanced sensors, improved mission systems and enhanced safety and reliability features. “This first flight reflects meaningful progress on Morocco’s F-16 Block 72 program and is a critical step in strengthening Morocco’s future airpower,” said Mike Shoemaker, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Integrated Fighter Group. “The F-16 remains a vital component of today’s and future air defense, and we’re proud of the role it will continue to play in supporting Morocco’s sovereignty and contributing to regional stability for decades to come.”

Lockheed Martin’s partnership with Morocco spans more than 50 years, beginning with the first C-130H delivery in 1974; today the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces operate F-16s, C-130s, advanced radar systems and Black Hawks, and will be receiving HIMARS long-range precision fires. Lockheed Martin is also working to strengthen Moroccan industry and local technical expertise through partnerships such as Maintenance Aero Maroc; an upcoming Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul facility at Benslimane, spanning more than 8,000 square metres, is designed to support heavy maintenance and modernisation of C-130 Hercules aircraft, with plans to expand to platforms including the F-16, supporting Morocco’s ambition to become a regional MRO hub.

MOROCCO’S F-16 PROGRAMME

Morocco’s existing F-16 fleet originates from a 2008 Lockheed Martin contract for 24 Block 52 F-16C/D aircraft worth $233.6 million, which made Morocco the 25th nation to operate the F-16; the first four of those aircraft were unveiled at Ben Guerrir Air Base in August 2011. The new Block 72 aircraft are being built at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South Carolina facility, the company’s dedicated F-16 production line, opened in 2019 after tooling was relocated from Fort Worth, Texas. Greenville’s first Block 70 customer was Bahrain, which ordered 16 aircraft in 2018 and flew its first Block 70 jet there in January 2023; Slovakia’s order for 14 Block 70 aircraft and Bulgaria’s own purchase followed. According to Lockheed Martin’s most recently published Block 70/72 programme figures, the company has 111 Block 70/72 aircraft on order across six customer countries, with 37 delivered to date.

Note: Additional historical and programme context in this article, beyond the source press release, draws solely on Lockheed Martin’s own earlier published releases on Morocco’s 2008 F-16 order, the 2011 delivery and the 2019 opening of the Greenville production line, together with the company’s most recent Block 70/72 Fast Facts sheet.