News Summary
Lockheed Martin has announced a workforce reduction of approximately 10% at its Greenville site due to the U.S. Air Force’s decision not to extend the F-16 depot sustainment contract. This will impact several hundred employees. Despite the layoffs, Lockheed Martin remains committed to supporting affected workers with outplacement services, while ongoing modernization efforts and a significant production backlog may indicate future growth for the facility.
Greenville, South Carolina – Lockheed Martin announced it will be reducing its workforce at the Greenville site by approximately 10%. This decision comes in response to the U.S. Air Force’s choice not to extend the F-16 depot sustainment contract, which has significant implications for the facility and its employees.
The exact number of employees affected by this workforce reduction has not been disclosed, but it is estimated that several hundred staff are employed at the Greenville site. This reduction follows a careful evaluation process by company officials, who stressed the need for this adjustment in light of the U.S. Air Force’s contract decision.
Lockheed Martin, as a leading aerospace and defense contractor, aims to support those impacted by the layoffs through various outplacement services and career counseling resources. The company remains committed to assisting affected employees as they transition to new opportunities in the job market.
The Greenville facility is critical in providing depot-level maintenance and support for the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, which represents about 45% of the Air Force’s fighter fleet. Lockheed Martin established the first U.S.-based F-16 industry depot within this site to support government-owned depot facilities. Since its inception in 1984, the Greenville site has delivered sustainment services to thousands of military and civilian aircraft, including the C-130 and P-3.
U.S. Representative William Timmons from South Carolina acknowledged the challenging impact of the Air Force’s recent decision but underscored a positive long-term outlook for the Greenville site. Timmons expressed his commitment to working alongside Lockheed Martin and local leaders to ensure the continued advancement of defense innovation and the creation of new job opportunities in the Upstate South Carolina region.
Lockheed Martin’s Greenville facility plays a dual role in both production and support, which highlights its importance to the defense sector and regional economy. As the Original Equipment Manufacturer of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Lockheed Martin is uniquely positioned with extensive knowledge of the aircraft, enhancing its ability to maintain and upgrade these fighter jets effectively.
The reduction in workforce may pose short-term challenges, but ongoing modernization efforts and the existing production backlog suggest a path towards recovery and renewed growth for the Greenville site. The commitment of Lockheed Martin to its workforce and dedication to the future of aviation and defense highlight the resilience of this critical local industry.
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Lockheed Martin Implements Layoffs at Greenville Facility
Additional Resources
- WYFF4: Lockheed Martin Hit by Layoffs
- Wikipedia: Lockheed Martin
- Fox Carolina: Lockheed Martin Layoffs
- Google Search: Lockheed Martin layoffs
- Greenville Business Magazine: Lockheed Martin Workforce Reduction
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Aircraft
- WSPA: Lockheed Martin Layoffs in Greenville
- Google News: Lockheed Martin Greenville
- SC Daily Gazette: Lockheed Martin Layoffs
