Latest news with #F-16Block70
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Lockheed Martin Aims to Cultivate Filipino Talent, Stimulate Job Growth and Advance Local Defense Sector with Industrial Collaboration Proposal
MANILA, Philippines, June 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin has outlined robust industrial collaboration projects for the Philippines, aimed at strengthening its Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept while investing in Filipino talent, technical training, and local industry partnerships. As part of the F-16 Block 70 package, Lockheed Martin will support the country's Self-Reliant Defense Posture (SRDP) by training Filipino technicians, enabling in-country maintenance, and building long-term pathways for aerospace careers through partnerships with universities and industry. "Lockheed Martin's partnership with the Philippines extends beyond providing military capability," said Aimee Burnett, vice president of business development for the Integrated Fighter Group at Lockheed Martin. "As we collaborate with the local industry, we aim to deliver social and economic value by cultivating talent, creating jobs and driving innovation that advances the domestic defense sector and supports holistic progress." "In short, Lockheed Martin is committed to building a long-term partnership that benefits the Philippines and its people," Burnett added. Lockheed Martin has proposed stand-up of several in-country Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul capabilities in the Philippines to support the F-16 and C-130. As part of this effort, Lockheed Martin would provide core technologies and equipment to local industrial partners to enable them to directly repair Philippine Air Force aircraft, leading to greater self-reliance in aerospace sustainment as well as job creation and skills-building opportunities for the Philippines workforce. Lockheed Martin has also proposed the establishment of an Innovation Center in the Philippines, which will serve as the focal point for research and development collaboration, technology transfer and investment. Building upon successful models deployed over the last decade in the United Arab Emirates, Australia and elsewhere, Lockheed Martin would partner with local universities, industries and government partners to provide training programs, allocate funding for research, and create Philippine-owned capabilities in emerging technology sectors. The Lockheed Martin Innovation Center will enable a pipeline of new technologies, skilled workers and empowered entrepreneurs who can drive future innovation and growth in the Philippines. "With the F-16 Block 70, Lockheed Martin is confident it can help the Philippines build a sustainable airpower ecosystem, driven by Filipino talent and supported by local industry, while delivering the advanced capabilities needed to address its most pressing defense requirements," Burnett said. For additional information, visit our website: About Lockheed Martin Lockheed Martin is a global defense technology company driving innovation and advancing scientific discovery. Our all-domain mission solutions and 21st Century Security® vision accelerate the delivery of transformative technologies to ensure those we serve always stay ahead of ready. More information at View original content: SOURCE Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Business
- GMA Network
US gov't seen to make formal fighter-jet sale offer to PH ‘soon' — Lockheed Martin
An F-16 fighter jet from the US Pacific Air Forces is among the US aircraft participating in the Cope Thunder exercises with the Philippine Air Force starting Monday, April 7, 2025 in various PAF bases in Luzon. CHINO GASTON/GMA Integrated News/File photo American aerospace and defense technology company Lockheed Martin has expressed optimism that the formal offer for the planned sale of $5.58-billion in F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines will be extended by the US government sooner. At a press briefing in Taguig City on Wednesday, Lockheed Martin Integrated Fighter Group Business Development Vice President Aimee Burnett said, 'It is up to the US government to make that [formal] offer.' She was asked to comment on Defense Secretary Gliberto Teodoro's pronouncement, at a defense summit in Singapore, that the Philippines is yet to receive a formal offer from the State Department to purchase 20 16 jets and related equipment. To recall, last April, the State Department announced it has approved the sale of $5.58-billion F-16 fighter jets to the Philippines. Burnett clarified that while Lockheed Martin will be providing the F-16 Block 70 jets, the discussions are still between the US and the Philippine governments. The formal offer, she said, would be 'the decision to be made by the US government…' 'We do believe that it's gonna be soon… We do expect it to be soon but the exact date of that offer is up to the US government,' she said. Burnett said that apart from F-16 jets, Lockheed Martin is also proposing the establishment of an Innovation Center in the Philippines — which would be the focal point for research and development collaboration, technology transfer and investment. The defense technology company would also be providing maintenance, repair and overhaul capabilities to the country by providing technologies and equipment to local industrial partners to allow them to directly repair Philippine Air Force aircraft. 'Lockheed Martin's partnership with the Philippines extends beyond providing military capability…,' said Burnett, noting that the company's offer to the Philippines would be a 'total package approach' as it aims to train Filipino technicians, enable in-country maintenance, as well as allocate funds for research. Last week, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez disclosed that the Philippines is working with the US and Lockheed Martin to determine how it can finance the major F-16 acquisition. — BAP, GMA Integrated News
United News of India
01-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Bulgarian ruling party leader claims US-delivered F-16 jet defective
Washington, May 1 (UNI) Former Bulgarian Prime Minister and leader of the ruling GERB (Citizens for European Development of Bulgaria) party Boyko Borisov has alleged that the first US-made F-16 fighter jet delivered to Bulgaria under a defense contract is non-operational, Bulgarian National Television reported on Wednesday. Borisov made the remarks while criticizing Bulgarian President Rumen Radev's actions during the European People's Party congress in Valencia, Spain. "He [Radev] quietly whispered to accompanying journalists that this new F-16 is broken and can't fly … The air force commander and Radev's close friend [Nikolay Rusev] should be fired immediately. How could we receive a broken aircraft for $100 million?" the former prime minister said. In response, President Radev urged Borisov to influence the government to allocate more funds for F-16 maintenance, reminding that the purchase agreement was signed during Borisov's own administration in 2019. In July 2019, the Bulgarian government signed a $1.26 billion contract to purchase eight F-16 Block 70 fighter jets from the United States. The original delivery schedule indicated that Bulgaria would receive the first jet by mid-2023. However, the timeline was delayed to 2025 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, Bulgaria also signed a contract for an additional eight F-16 jets. UNI SPUTNIK GNK
The Independent
02-04-2025
- Business
- The Independent
The first of 16 new F-16 fighter jets from the US land in Bulgaria
Bulgaria received on Wednesday the first of 16 new F-16 military jets from the United States that the Balkan country needs to upgrade its defense and bring its air force in line with NATO standards. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov hailed the arrival of the first jet at the Graf Ignatievo air base in central Bulgaria. 'This is not just a fighter jet, but a symbol and embodiment of Bulgaria's strategic partnership with the United States … a partnership that offers a new perspective for the Bulgarian Army," the prime minister said. Bulgaria contracted to buy eight multi-role F-16 Block 70 aircraft in July 2019 for $1.3 billion. Plans initially called for the first planes to arrive in Bulgaria in 2023, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed their delivery. In 2022, the Bulgarian government signed a contract with American aerospace company Lockheed Martin for a second batch of another eight of the F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2027. Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, has for two decades sought to update its military's air fleet of aging Soviet-made MiG-29 jets, but financial problems forced repeated postponements. Amid Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine, Bulgaria has been relying on assistance from other NATO countries to fulfill its air policing obligations as an alliance member.
Associated Press
02-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
The first of 16 new F-16 fighter jets from the US land in Bulgaria
SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Bulgaria received on Wednesday the first of 16 new F-16 military jets from the United States that the Balkan country needs to upgrade its defense and bring its air force in line with NATO standards. Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov hailed the arrival of the first jet at the Graf Ignatievo air base in central Bulgaria. 'This is not just a fighter jet, but a symbol and embodiment of Bulgaria's strategic partnership with the United States … a partnership that offers a new perspective for the Bulgarian Army,' the prime minister said. Bulgaria contracted to buy eight multi-role F-16 Block 70 aircraft in July 2019 for $1.3 billion. Plans initially called for the first planes to arrive in Bulgaria in 2023, but the coronavirus pandemic delayed their delivery. In 2022, the Bulgarian government signed a contract with American aerospace company Lockheed Martin for a second batch of another eight of the F-16 fighter jets by the end of 2027. Bulgaria, which joined NATO in 2004, has for two decades sought to update its military's air fleet of aging Soviet-made MiG-29 jets, but financial problems forced repeated postponements. Amid Russia's ongoing war on Ukraine, Bulgaria has been relying on assistance from other NATO countries to fulfill its air policing obligations as an alliance member.
