The picture shows the first flight of Morocco's first F-16 Block 72 fighter jet. (Picture taken from Loma)
[Reporter Wu Zheyu/Taipei Report] The world's first F-16 Block 72 fighter jet officially took off. Lockheed Martin announced that the first two-seat F-16D Block 72 produced for the Royal Moroccan Air Force has completed its first flight at the Greenville factory in South Carolina. It will then conduct flight tests to prepare for official delivery. Morocco is also the first country in the world to purchase the Block 72 configuration.
The military news website "The War Zone" reported that the U.S. government approved Morocco's purchase of 25 F-16C/D Block 72s in March 2019. The arms sales are estimated to be worth US$3.787 billion (approximately NT$124.07 billion). The new aircraft will be equipped with the AN/APG-83 "Scalable Agile Beam Radar" (SABR), adopt Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, and integrate a new mission computer, Link 16 data link, modern navigation and helmet sighting system to enhance air-to-air and air-to-ground combat capabilities.
It is worth noting that in the first flight photos released by Lockheed Martin, the front-seat pilot is wearing the rare "Digital Joint Helmet Sighting System" (D-JHMCS). This advanced helmet is rarely seen on F-16 pilots, but it is not clear whether Morocco has included it in a formal procurement project.
F-16 Block 70 and Block 72 both belong to the latest production standards. The main difference lies in the engine. Block 70 uses GE's F110-GE-129, and Block 72 uses Pratt & Whitney's F100-PW-229. The latter has slightly higher thrust, and the main avionics and combat systems of the two are roughly the same.
Morocco chose Block 72 mainly because of the logistical commonality of its existing fleet. The F-16C/D Block 52+ currently operated by the Royal Moroccan Air Force also uses Pratt & Whitney F100 engines. Therefore, the new aircraft can continue to use the existing maintenance and logistics support system, reducing replacement costs and training burden.
In addition to purchasing 25 new aircraft, Morocco is also simultaneously promoting the upgrade of 23 F-16C/D Block 52+ currently in service to F-16V standards. The relevant arms sales case was also approved by the United States in March 2019. Since the F-16V and the new Block 70/72 use similar avionics and combat systems, Morocco will build a modern F-16 fleet with more consistent specifications in the future.
Lockheed Martin is also assisting Morocco in strengthening its local aerospace maintenance industry. It is working with local companies to build a maintenance facility with an area of more than 86,000 square feet in Bensliman. It will initially support major maintenance and upgrades of C-130 transport aircraft, and will expand to F-16 in the future, helping to improve Morocco's ability to independently maintain the availability of fighter aircraft.
Moroccan F-16s have participated in military operations against ISIS and Yemen in the past, and have often participated in the "African Lion" joint exercises led by the U.S. Africa Command. With the completion of the first flight of the first Block 72, and the upgrade plan of the current F-16V, Morocco will further strengthen its joint combat capabilities with the US military and allies, and allow the F-16 to continue to serve as the main fighter aircraft of its air force.
