Lockheed Martin to cut jobs at Greenville F-16 site

Lockheed Martin is reducing its Greenville workforce following a U.S. Air Force decision not to extend its sustainment contract with the company.

The cuts could mean a reduction of as many as 180 jobs or 10% of the workforce, according to reports.

The Lockheed Martin site in Greenville’s South Carolina Technology & Aviation Center is better known now as the place where the company builds new F-16 fighter jets, but for decades was a sustainment center where aircraft were serviced and maintained.

That role was bolstered in December 2020 when the Air Force awarded Lockheed Martin the $900 million F-16 Continental United State (CONUS) Depot contract to provide “depot level maintenance and modernization support.” At the time the Air Force said it was the first U.S. based F-16 industry depot; two others were based in Europe and the Pacific.

It’s the end of that contract that will lead to layoffs in Greenville.

Lockheed Martin said in a statement: “As a result of the Air Force’s decision not to extend the F-16 CONUS Depot contract, and to meet our customers’ needs for affordability in a cost-competitive environment, we made the difficult decision to conduct a limited reduction in force at our Greenville site. This decision was made with a great deal of consideration and careful evaluation, and we’re committed to supporting affected employees with outplacement services and career counseling.”

Customers for the new F-16s coming off the production line today do not include any branch of the U.S. military. However, even though the American military has moved on to different jets, the F-16 remains a part of the American fleet, making up 45% of the Air Force inventory when the contract was entered five years ago. The new customers are nations with military objectives that align with those of the United States, company and government officials have said since the first Greenville-made F-16 was made for the Kingdom of Bahrain and delivered in a ceremony at the site in March 2023.

“Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility remains a cornerstone of South Carolina’s defense industry and a critical asset to our national security,” U.S. Rep. William Timmons, R-S.C., said in a statement.  “While the Air Force’s decision not to extend a specific contract will result in a workforce adjustment, the long-term outlook for this site is strong.”

“With over 100 next generation F-16s currently in the production backlog for U.S. allies and continued global demand, Greenville is well-positioned for future growth,” Timmons said in the statement. “Lockheed Martin has reaffirmed its commitment to the region, and I will continue working with them and local leaders to ensure the Upstate remains a leader in defense innovation and job creation.”

The F-16 is currently operated by 27 countries, with six countries selecting the F-16 Block 70/72 version made in Greenville for their fleets.