The U.S. Air Force F-16 fleet achieved an excellent safety record during fiscal year 2000, which ended Sept. 30.

The USAF F-16 fleet experienced only 2.63 major mishaps per 100,000 flight hours. This was third-best to fiscal years 1995 and 1996, which had rates of 2.33 and 2.14 mishaps, respectively, per 100,000 flight hours.

The F-16 safety record continues to improve. The USAF F-16 fleet has amassed approximately 6.3 million flight hours, and the worldwide F-16 fleet recently passed the 9-million flight hour milestone.

The F-16 reigns as the safest multirole fighter in USAF history and one of the safest fighters ever produced.

The F-16's performance helped USAF achieve its best annual safety record in FY 2000. The F-16 comprises more than half of the USAF fighter force, which includes active, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard components.

The USAF fleet of more than 1,400 F-16s flew approximately 342,375 flight hours during FY 2000. The excellent safety record is more impressive considering the high tempo of flight operations and frequent unit deployments, including continuous peacekeeping operations in the Balkans and Iraq under very demanding conditions.

The F-16, the world's most sought-after fighter, is the choice of 20 countries. More than 4,000 aircraft have been delivered; hundreds more will be delivered to Bahrain, Egypt, the United States, Israel, Greece, the United Arab Emirates, Korea and Singapore; and production is expected to continue beyond 2010. Major upgrades for all F-16 versions are being incorporated to keep the fleet modern and fully supportable over the aircraft's long service life.

Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company is a leader in the design, development, systems integration, production and support of advanced military aircraft and related technologies. Its customers include the military services of the United States and allied countries throughout the world. Products include the F-22, F-16, F-117, C-5, C-27J, C-130, P-3, U-2, X-33 and Joint Strike Fighter, among other renowned aircraft. LM Aeronautics is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corporation , headquartered in Bethesda, Md. Lockheed Martin is a global enterprise principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture and integration of advanced-technology systems, products and services. The corporation's core businesses are systems integration, space, aeronautics and technology services.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company