First flight of Slovakian Air Force F-16V

After the roll out of the first Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 70 Fighting Falcon for the Vzdušné sily Ozbrojených sil Slovenskej Republiky (SAF, Slovakian Air Force) on 7 September 2023, the first flight of this fighter, serial 1001, took place from the Lockheed facilities at Greenville (SC) on 29 September 2023.

The Lockheed Martin test pilot successfully conducted multiple system tests to validate performance and supersonic capabilities during the flight.

Delivery of the first four F-16Vs, out of a total of fourteen, is expected in the second half of 2024. Slovakia will be the first European country using the latest version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon.

Credit photos: Lockheed Martin