Lockheed Martin announced it has achieved a significant production milestone with the delivery of its 4,300th F-16 aircraft yesterday.

"This marks another significant milestone for the F-16 Fighting Falcon -- the most sought after fighter in history," said June Shrewsbury, vice president, Lockheed Martin F-16 programs. "With 4,300 aircraft in total delivered to 24 countries, the F-16 is the only international aircraft program that can claim more than 50 follow-on buys by 14 repeat customers, each who have relied on the Fighting Falcon as a key component of their national defense and fighter force structure."

F-16 number 4,300 will be in service for Oman, which has purchased 12 Advanced Block 50 F-16s in the Peace A'sama A'safiyah (Clear Skies) Program. Clear Skies is a U.S. Government Foreign Military Sales program. The Omani F- 16s are just one of six F-16 aircraft programs currently in production at the Fort Worth facility. Lockheed Martin is currently producing F-16 aircraft for Chile, Israel, Oman, Poland and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Greece has also recently placed an order for 30 F-16 aircraft planned for delivery in 2009.

Shrewsbury added, "Our company and its employees take great pride in producing an aircraft that is critical to the national security of the United States and its allies. With the delivery of aircraft 4,300, this is an unprecedented achievement in fighter aircraft production history and a true testament to the advancements Lockheed Martin has integrated into the aircraft to keep this fighter on the forefront of technology and capability."

Headquartered in Bethesda, Md., Lockheed Martin employs about 135,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. The corporation reported 2005 sales of $37.2 billion.

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SOURCE: Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company