Lockheed Martin brings more F-16 manufacturing jobs to Pennsylvania facility

Lockheed Martin is bringing new F-16 manufacturing work and 80 new jobs to its facility in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

The defence giant also plans to lease a new building to accommodate it.

Wayne Davis, director at Lockheed Martin’s Johnstown site, says there is continued demand for new F-16 fighters around the world, requiring development of additional parts manufacturing sites to ensure it can keep up with demand.

“Johnstown’s selection for this new work reflects the highly skilled workforce in the area, a record of quality production and the space available to expand,” said Davis. “We are proud to grow our presence in Johnstown and to contribute to the acceleration of jobs.”

F-16 parts to be produced in Johnstown include the aft engine access covers, engine access doors, F-1 fuel tank, and inlet. Early work in Johnstown will kick off this year, with the bulk of hiring and other significant efforts beginning in 2022.

Upon completion in Johnstown, the parts will be shipped to Greenville, South Carolina, for final assembly and integration into the F-16s on the production line.

This is in addition to F-16 component and sub-assembly work already performed at the site today.

The Johnstown facility also provides parts and services for the F-35 and F-22 fighter jets, and the C-130 military transport aircraft.

Last week Aerospace Manufacturing reported Taiwan will spend $1.4 billion on new fighter jets as the nation announces a modest rise in defence spending for next year.

The government did not give details of the fighter to be purchased, but it is likely referring to the F-16. The US approved an $8 billion sale of F-16s to Taiwan in 2019, which would bring the country's total to more than 200 units.

Lockheed Martin recently opened a new F-16 production line in Greenville, South Carolina to support the growing international demand for new fighters.

The company also reported a £100 million sales boost for the fighter programme in the latest quarterly report due to increased production volume.

The Greenville line is the only production facility for F-16s in the world, opening three years after the company’s long-time F-16 line in Fort Worth, Texas wrapped up production. Greenville will produce Block 70/72 aircraft.

“This new production line is very significant,” said Brian Pearson, integrated product team lead for F-16 foreign military sales, with the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center’s Fighters and Advanced Aircraft Directorate, which is leading the effort to build and deliver the new F-16s. “There are 25 nations operating F-16s today, and they have a lot of expertise with the airframe. The line helps us meet the global demand that a number of nations have for [F-16] aircraft and gives us the additional capability to provide the aircraft to countries interested in purchasing it for the first time.”

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