Lockheed Martin confirmed on October 6 that the Royal Moroccan Air Force's first F-16 Block 72 had completed its maiden test flight. The aircraft is progressing through flight testing toward initial delivery. The manufacturer described the flight as a milestone for Morocco's future airpower, rather than announcing operational deployment.
AeroTime notes that the United States approved Morocco's request for twenty-five Block 72 aircraft in 2019. Lockheed Martin is also developing local support through partnerships including Maintenance Aero Maroc. A planned maintenance and overhaul facility at Benslimane is intended to support C-130 work, with potential expansion to platforms such as the F-16. These industrial plans are separate from completion of the fighter's acceptance process.
