On 14 October 2019, Susan Ouzts, Vice President of F-16 of Lockheed Martin certified Kongsberg Aviation Maintenance Services (KAMS) as the first Falcon Depot.
President of Kongsberg Aviation, Atle Wøllo, co-signed the Falcon Depot certification authorizing KAMS to perform Lockheed Martin certified F-16 Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) sustainment work as an Lockheed Martin franchise in the global market.
Susan Ouzts stated that “KAMS has decades of F-16 sustainment experience that can be leveraged globally to support our F-16 customers. KAMS has a unique opportunity to perform Lockheed Martin F-16 quality work, through deployable global field teams, with approved LM engineering and Lockheed Martin licensed parts at a value to the customer”.
Atle Wøllo expressed that “this is a step to further strengthen the long established and close partnership between our two companies. For more than forty years we have joined efforts supporting the F-16s”.
“We are extremely proud that Lockheed Martin acknowledges our experience and dedication to the F-16s by certifying KAMS as the first Falcon Depot. Together we will ensure continued success and readiness for existing and new F-16 operators”.
Lockheed Martin continues to grow its F-16 customer base and sees new F-16 production opportunities totaling more than 400 aircraft. There are approximately 3,000 operational F-16s in service today within twenty-five countries.