Saifullah Sani
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Key Points
- The USAF has removed more than half of its F-16Ds from flight status for inspection
- The order does not affect the remainder of the 812-aircraft US fleet
Officials ordered inspections of all US F-16Ds after finding the cracks during routine post-flight inspections, it said. The F-16D is the two-seat variant of the F-16 and is primarily used for training.
The F-16D has two cockpits in tandem, equipped with all controls, displays, instruments, avionics, and life support systems required to perform both training and combat missions, according to Jane's All the World's Aircraft .
The Pentagon and F-16 prime contractor Lockheed Martin are now analysing the aircraft's structure and developing repair procedures that will allow the affected aircraft to resume limited operations while a permanent fix is devised, according to the USAF.
"As aircraft accumulate flight hours, cracks develop due to fatigue from sustained operations," Lieutenant Colonel Steve Grotjohn, the deputy chief of the USAF's Weapon System Division, said. "Fortunately, we have a robust maintenance, inspection, and structural integrity programme to discover and repair deficiencies as they occur."
The remainder of the US F-16 fleet, which includes over 800 aircraft, was not affected by the inspection order.
USAF grounds 82 F-16Ds - IHS Jane's 360
