Polish aerospace manufacturer PZL Mielec has commenced production and completed the first two structures for the latest version of the F-16 fighter jet, Block 70/72, the company has announced.
The PZL Mielec plant, owned by Lockheed Martin, is being used to create components of the aircraft which, according to Robert Orzyłowski, director of Lockheed Martin for Poland and Central Europe, remains a crucial element of air forces across the world.
“The structures produced by PZL Mielec strengthen Poland’s position as a key part of the global F-16 program, which will translate into opportunities for other local businesses,” said Orzyłowski in a statement.
The completed structures are the rear and front parts of the central fuselage of the aircraft. They will be used on the final assembly line of the F-16 at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics in Greenville, South Carolina.
The installation and preparatory work for the production of F-16 structural elements in Mielec began last year. It included the modernization and preparation of surfaces and the launch of the production line. At the same time, a group of 46 representatives from PZL Mielec, including production workers and leaders, went to Greenville for six months to gain experience and learn about the F-16 production process, preparing for their tasks in Mielec.
PZL Mielec President Janusz Zakręcki emphasized that the timely completion of the first F-16 structures is a very important moment for the plant and its employees. “This means the return of our plant to the production of military jet aircraft and the beginning of our participation in the production of the F-16,” he noted.
PZL Mielec employs 1,500 people, and the company generates over 5,000 additional jobs in Poland’s supply chain.
Lockheed Martin Corporation, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, is an international company operating in the areas of security and aviation, employing approximately 116,000 people worldwide. The company is engaged in the research, design, development, production, integration and maintenance of advanced technological systems, products and services.
