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Israel Aerospace Industries goes back to producing wings for F-16 fighter jets

It is reviving a line established in the 1980s following an increased worldwide demand for such aircraft.

Israel Aerospace Industries will again produce wings for F-16 fighter jets, September 2021. Credit: Lockheed Martin.
Israel Aerospace Industries will again produce wings for F-16 fighter jets, September 2021. Credit: Lockheed Martin.

Israel Aerospace Industries has resumed the production of wings for Lockheed Martin-produced F-16 fighter jets, the companies announced on Thursday.

It is reviving a production line established in the 1980s following what it said is “increased worldwide demand for the F-16” aircraft.

It added that “IAI will produce F-16 wings that will be shipped to the F-16 final assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.”

Boaz Levy, IAI’s president and CEO, said the development continues a “decades-long cooperation of manufacturing aerostructures for Lockheed Martin customers.”

IAI also produces wings for F-35 jets and for T-38 jets used by American pilots for training.

Joshua (Shiki) Shani, chief executive of Lockheed Martin Israel, said the American defense giant “has invested billions of dollars with Israeli defense and aerospace industries because of the high-quality, cutting-edge technology that Israeli industry offers. We are continuously looking to expand our cooperation throughout all our programs.”

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