Lockheed hands out layoff notices to F-16 workers

[SABRE]

Thursday, January 20, 2005 - About 220 workers on the F-16 production line were handed layoff notices Wednesday by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. in Fort Worth as the defense contractor begins cuts in its F-16 Fighting Falcon program.

The layoffs, the first round of many, follow three years of job growth in the F-16 program. The company has about 15,500 employees - about 6,000 of which were working on the F-16s last year.

It is the first wave of 800 to 1,000 layoffs of F-16 workers planned this year.

All of the employees affected are aircraft assemblers, mechanics, painters and other production workers. Some may still be reassigned to other duties and all others will get outplacement services.

Lockheed gave out 60-day warning notices to the assembly line workers, who will leave the company in March.

The Fort Worth-based company is moving out of the F-16 fighter jet's development and initial production phases and not as many workers are needed.

Lockheed Martin has a backlog of about 200 planes but they did not book any new orders for F-16 fighter jets in 2004.

Without new orders, production of the F-16 would end in late 2008.
http://www.f-16.net/f-16_news_article1294.html
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Would this delay & slow down the production if new jets are ordered, say by PAF??

 

[srirangan]

I don't think there will be delays, they'll simply rehire; or maybe outsource to India

 

[Pathfinder-X]

It's natural as the JSF program is getting into place. The Fighting Falcon production facility has been cranking out fighters since late 1970's. My guess is that the production line will be closed down before the end of this decade.

Regarding your comments about PAF, if there is to be a deal between the two, it's most likely going to be second hand F-16s from current american inventory. U.S has hundreds of F-16s in storage, therefore the layoff should not effect the delivery of the planes.

 

[adsH]

It's natural as the JSF program is getting into place. The Fighting Falcon production facility has been cranking out fighters since late 1970's. My guess is that the production line will be closed down before the end of this decade.

Regarding your comments about PAF, if there is to be a deal between the two, it's most likely going to be second hand F-16s from current american inventory. U.S has hundreds of F-16s in storage, therefore the layoff should not effect the delivery of the planes.

Most of the Second hand Excess F-16 are not Suitable For a long term Employment. The Production line has not been shut it still exists. the F-16 will continue to serve Beyond the 2020. So i think new F-16 would be in-order. Prsd.Bush has said it before, if PAF gets F-16 it would have to be new ones. And i think Lockheed would prefer new orders.

 

[SABRE]

Well the 2nd hand USAF F-16s r well equiped with pretty good weapons but the air frame is used up.

On the other hand I have herd that there r 1st hand un-used F-16s of different varients in LockHeeds-Inventory. They have been trying to get rid of them or say get a deal for them. I think they r probably going for the oppertunity cost here, they prefer to fire ppl than stripping down the jets that still can be sold at pretty good value. Employees can be rehired but jets will have to go back to production again, so lets keep the F-16s.
I assume that when F-16 deal with PAF goes through they ll be sold the ones in the inventory (if they realy r in the inventory).

On the other hand the Turkish F-16s will continue the production, we can get some from there & few from Belgium to make up a Surplus of F-16s for Air Superiority & let some other 4th gen fighter take place in the inventory of PAF as the Front liner defender.

 

[adsH]

On the other hand the Turkish F-16s will continue the production, we can get some from there & few from Belgium to make up a Surplus of F-16s for Air Superiority & let some other 4th gen fighter take place in the inventory of PAF as the Front liner defender.

i'm a Afraid this is what lockheed doesn't want other Subcontractors Out shining them, thats why they have the Non Export Clause in the Production-lines. the F-16 Production lines are handed over to an ally to speed up deliveries of there own AC and to Enhance there Technical contributions to the program not to win extra Contracts. Lockheed would Prefer to deal with Export clients on its Own. the Turkish Production line is for Internal Consumption only. the Actuall TOT does not exist and the Turkish are still dependent on lockheed for Electronic and other Controlled kits. Thats why they have to apply for Serials whenever they Decide to Purchase ie Build an AC.