Viper Sale to Jordan announced

[Lonewolf_50]

Looks like Jordan has signed up for 8 new F-16's.
https://news.lockheedmartin.com/06-1...ock-70-Program

Jordan has officially signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the sale of eight new production F-16 Block 70 aircraft.“This F-16 acquisition reflects over 70 years of U.S. cooperation and decades of partnership with Lockheed Martin,” says Aimee Burnett, vice president, Integrated Fighter Group Business Development. “Our history partnering with Jordan strengthens regional security and helps protect citizens through 21st Century Security technologies that support critical missions today and into the future.”

(Also reported by Jane's).

[SLXOwft]

The FMS notification to Congress in February was for 12 Cs and 4 Ds. Order 1 of 2 perhaps. The RJAF announced in March 2020 it wanted to replace older existing As and Bs with Block 70/72 models instead of upgrading existing ones. The existing fleet of mixed standard aircraft has been acquired over 25 years the most recent ones being ex Netherland's MLU OFP 6.5 standard (originally circa fy81); the RJAF has signalled it wants to sell some older ones (presumably subject to US approval) . Congress was notified on an FMS request for an F16 Air Combat Training Center in February 21.

Has the F-16V designation for Block 70/72 been dropped?

[Lonewolf_50]

That's a good question, maybe gums will know (I think he still knows a few people in Viper world).

[Stitchbitch]

Is that the new one with the Martin-Baker US18E seat?

Twitter

[SLXOwft]

Stichbitch - yes, according to MB

Lonewolf,

LM are still calling it the V; I wonder if the DSCA is using C/D due to the 'polyticks' (to quote gums) which did for the Viper G (Blk 40/42) and the Viper J (Blk 50/52)

Story here https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Disp...-of-air-power/ about the ANG Vipers that have received the AN/APG-83 (SABR) AESA radar upgrade