Lockheed Martin Greenville Celebrates 40th Anniversary
August 27, 2024“Global Home of the F-16” celebrates success in the Upstate
Leading aerospace manufacturer Lockheed Martin is celebrating the 40th anniversary of its site in Upstate South Carolina.
Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility is today known as “The Global Home of the F-16,” though the site has been in operation offering aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services since 1984, delivering nearly 3,100 aircraft in that time.
The F-16 has more than 3,100 jets currently in operation across the globe.
The Global Home of the F-16
In 2018, the F-16 production line relocated from Texas to Greenville in response to increased international demand for new production F-16s. This transfer has contributed to an annual economic impact of more than $1.3 billion in South Carolina, supporting nearly 200 local suppliers.
A longstanding international staple, the F-16 celebrated its 50th anniversary in May 2024, and now operates in 27 countries, spans 13 block generations and includes 142 versions. The F-16’s latest variant, the Block 70/72, features advanced avionics, weapons, battlespace awareness and other enhancements to safety and durability. In 2023, the F-16 won the “The Coolest Thing Made in South Carolina” award after a two-month contest that yielded more than 220,000 votes.
Lockheed Martin delivers first F-16 Block 70 fighter jet to Bahrain in Greenville, SC.
A Growing Workforce
Lockheed Martin’s Greenville workforce has seen remarkable growth, surging from 400 to more than 1,800 employees and continuing to rise to meet the growing demands of the aerospace industry. Its workforce is comprised of a strong representation of Armed Forces members, with nearly one in four of employees having served in uniform.
“We are proud to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our Lockheed Martin Greenville site,” said Trish Pagan, Vice President of F-16 Programs and Greenville Site Lead. “And as the Global Home of the F-16, our innovative and dedicated employees build the most advanced fourth-generation F-16 and provide world-class sustainment and modification solutions to C-130s and F-16s.”
Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility spans 275 acres with 16 hangars and nearly 1.2 million square feet of covered space.
SCTAC: A Mobility Asset
Lockheed’s Greenville facility is located at the SC Technology & Aviation Center, a 2,600-acre business park that is home to more than 110 companies including Michelin, Solvay Carbon Fibers and 3M.
SCTAC is also home to the S.C. Army National Guard / Greenville Technical College Joint Use Readiness Center. There, Greenville Tech’s Aircraft Maintenance Technology program is housed and the The SC Army National Guard uses the facility primarily on weekends to train personnel, supporting their need for qualified Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) technicians to work on Lakota helicopters.
Learn more about how the aerospace industry and cluster support in Upstate SC at our Aerospace page.