The Adversary and Specialized Aircraft Program Office (PMA-226) at Naval Air Systems Command in Patuxent River, Maryland, teamed with Fleet Readiness Center Southwest (FRCSW) to achieve a major milestone this month by completing the U.S. Navy’s first Programmed Structural Sustainment Repair (PSSR) on an F-16C Viper aircraft. The jet returned to service eight months ahead of schedule, boosting fleet readiness for adversary training missions.
This accomplishment, announced February 10, 2026, from Patuxent River, demonstrates rapid establishment of depot-level maintenance for the F-16 platform within the Navy. PMA-226 and FRCSW stood up the capability in just 18 months—a fraction of the typical five or more years required for new depot activations.
Capt. Jason Pettitt, PMA-226 program manager, highlighted the impact. “This is a huge achievement for the Navy,” he said. “The strategic collaboration between FRCSW and PMA-226 to establish F-16 depot maintenance capabilities has delivered accelerated readiness for the warfighter. Both teams worked tirelessly to procure, train and install the necessary equipment to stand up the F-16 PSSR capability in just 18 months — an unprecedented pace for depot line activation.”
The Navy’s F-16C Vipers serve as affordable 4+ generation adversary aircraft, flown primarily by the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC) and Air Force Reserve units. They replicate advanced threats during TOPGUN exercises, deployment training, and other high-end scenarios for naval aviators. The service acquired dozens of these jets from the Air Force, originally facing life limits of one to five years without sustainment work.
To extend safe operational life for decades, PMA-226 partnered with FRCSW in North Island, California, to conduct essential structural inspections and repairs. The effort required adapting Air Force technical data for Navy use, adding thousands of parts to the Navy supply system, and training personnel on the new platform—all while launching the depot line.
Mark Greenamyer, PMA-226 F-16 Depot Integration lead, praised the cross-service effort. “Bringing a new aircraft into a military depot in 18 months is an amazing achievement,” he said. “Most depot standup activities can take five years or more. Teaming with FRCSW, PMA-226, the USAF F-16 System Program Office, and Air Force depot locations made the acceleration possible with everyone running every day to a common vision and goal.”
The first aircraft induction served as a hands-on training ground to refine processes, adjust timelines, and streamline workflows. Lessons from the Air Force’s PSSR procedures helped the Navy sidestep delays. Greenamyer stressed key principles: “Transparency. Meet early and often. Get straight to the goal and never take your eye off the destination.”
This repaired F-16 marks the start of broader sustainment at FRCSW, which can scale to support the full Navy fleet with additional docks. The facility is advancing to its first Canopy Sill Longeron (CSL) repair—a fix that can otherwise ground aircraft—and plans the initial Uniform Have Glass (UHG) paint application. UHG coating boosts durability, cuts maintenance costs, and improves threat simulation realism.
The milestone extends beyond one jet, enhancing operational flexibility and warfighting edge. With FRCSW positioned for ongoing repairs and upgrades, the Navy avoids capacity constraints and maintains training realism without disrupting other workloads.
Pettitt closed with recognition. “This achievement is a testament to the power of collaboration and the Navy’s commitment to readiness,” he said. “Congratulations to all team members for this successful achievement on delivering the first Navy F-16C Viper out of FRCSW!”
Patuxent River’s PMA-226 oversees lifecycle management for specialized aircraft, including adversaries like the F-16, directly supporting Southern Maryland’s role as a hub for naval aviation innovation and acquisition. This early delivery underscores how joint efforts and rapid adaptation strengthen national defense capabilities.
