Lockheed Martin recently announced it will produce the F-16 fighter jet parts in Johnstown.
“Johnstown’s selection for this new work reflects the highly skilled workforce in the area, a record of quality production and the space available to expand,” Wayne Davis, director of Lockheed Martin’s Johnstown site, said. “We are proud to grow our presence in Johnstown and to contribute to the acceleration of jobs.”
The Johnstown plant will produce multiple parts for the F-16 including engine access doors, fuel tanks, aft engine access covers, and inlets.
Completed parts will be shipped to Greenville, S.C., where they will be assembled and integrated into the F-16s on the production line.
Work will begin this year with the majority of the work beginning in 2022.
The facility plans to hire 80 new people in addition to the nearly 400 employees who currently work doing F-16 component and sub-assembly work.
Lockheed Martin plans to lease a new building to accommodate the increased production. The company said increased global demand for new F-16s has required the addition of more parts manufacturing sites to ensure it can keep up with demand.
The Johnstown facility also provides parts and services for C-130 military transport aircraft and F-35 and F-22 fighter jets.