Lockheed Martin has flown the first F-16 Block 72 built for the Royal Moroccan Air Force, advancing the aircraft into flight testing ahead of delivery. The maiden flight took place at the company’s Greenville, South Carolina, facility, which produces F-16s for international customers, and comes after Morocco’s 2019 approval to buy 25 aircraft of the type.
The jet is the first aircraft in Morocco’s new Block 72 fleet and represents the most advanced F-16 variant in production. Lockheed Martin has not disclosed a delivery date for the aircraft, leaving the timing of its arrival in Morocco unclear.
The programme forms part of Morocco’s broader air-force modernisation plan and is tied to a long-running US-approved procurement that positioned the country as the launch customer for the Block 72. The aircraft will now undergo further testing before handover to the Royal Moroccan Air Force.