Fifty years on, F-16 still isn't done evolving as latest variant takes to the skies
The F-16 Fighting Falcon has reached a new milestone with the maiden flight of the Block 72 variant, built for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. This latest iteration features advanced avionics and radar systems, continuing the legacy of an aircraft platform that has been evolving since its inception in the 1970s.
Why it matters
The F-16 remains a cornerstone of global air power, and its continuous upgrades demonstrate the longevity and adaptability of legacy military hardware in modern defense strategies.
More than half a century after it first took to the skies in 1974, the F-16 Fighting Falcon has reached yet another milestone, with the newest version of the jet, the Block 72, completing its maiden flight on October 6. The two-seat aircraft, built for the Royal Moroccan Air Force at Lockheed Martin's Greenville facility in South Carolina, now enters flight testing ahead of deliveries scheduled to begin in 2027. The deliveries are part of a Moroccan order for 25 new jets, alongside the upgrade of 23 existing Block 52 aircraft to the same standard.The Block 72 comes fitted with modernised avionics, the AN/APG-83 AESA radar, the Viper Shield electronic warfare suite and enhanced safety systems, making it the most advanced configuration of the aircraft built to date.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in