Lockheed Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon

The Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon is currently the most numerous combat aircraft in NATO. Originally developed for the USAF as a day fighter, the F-16 has evolved into a highly capable multi-role combat aircraft that despite flying for the first time in 1974 is still in production. Over 4,500 F-16s have been produced over the past 49 years and 3,000 of them are still in service with 25 nations around the world. The most recent version is called the Block 70/72 and includes a new cockpit, computers, an advanced AESA radar based on the one installed in the F-35.

During 2008, the Moroccan Air Force ordered a total of 24 F16C/D Block 52 aircraft from Lockheed Martin and the first aircraft were ferried from the US to Morocco during August 2011. Their entire fleet of F-16s are based at Ben Guerir Air Base where they are flown by three different squadrons. Morocco intends to keep their aircraft up to date and are planning to upgrade them to the Block 72 configuration – known as the F-16V which will be supplemented by an additional 25 new build F-16Vs which were ordered in 2019.

We are very pleased to announce that Morrocco will be providing a pair of F-16s, one F-16C and an F-16D for static display as part of our lineup of F-16s to the celebrate the types 50th anniversary. This is the first time Morocco have attended RIAT since 1995 and it is the first time they have sent combat aircraft to the show.

Photo Credit: Glenn Stanley