The operation of F-16 fighter jets in the United States is coming to an end, experts from the American magazine The National Interest write. This, they say, is evidenced by the cessation of work with this type of aircraft at Luke Air Force Base. Pravda.Ru publishes the translation.
The Air Force is retiring its oldest fighter jets, the F-16 Fighting Falcons, but will operate newer Block 40 and Block 50 models until at least the early 2040s, continually upgrading them to maintain combat effectiveness. Although the US Air Force is not purchasing new F-16 fighters, Lockheed Martin continues to produce improved variants for international customers, and production is expected to continue through the end of the decade.
Luke Air Force Base in Arizona graduated its class of F-16 pilots on Sept. 20, 2024, ending nearly five decades of service as a training center for the aircraft. The base will now focus solely on training F-35A Lightning II pilots, while future F-16 pilots will train at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico.
“It’s more of a transition period, you know, fighter training doesn’t stop, the 309th Fighter Squadron isn’t going anywhere, we’re just transitioning to the F-35 and it’s more of a modernization than a ending”. – said the lieutenant colonel Mike Ress.
As of July 2023, there were 935 operational F-16 Fighting Falcons in the USAF fighter fleet. The aircraft made its first flight in January 1974 and on August 17, 1978 it officially entered service.
As reported EADaily Until the end of the year, Ukraine should receive approximately 20 F-16 aircraft from allied countries. However, according to retired US Army Maj. Gen. Gordon “jump” DavisAlthough American fighters are the most advanced in the Ukrainian fleet, the best Russian fighters are still superior to them.
