Lockheed Martin has just graduated the first students from its F-16 training center in Romania. The company is already looking to expand it and double its production of pilots. Up to 30 to 40 pilots could be trained per year with expansions. The first group of eight Romanian pilots graduated from the center last month, and a second class is enrolling.

The F-16 training center in Romania stands ready to train Ukrainian pilots if requested. Ukraine has been frustrated by the slow production of pilots to fly its newly received F-16 jets. Lockheed is prepared to assist with maintenance and repair of Ukraine’s F-16s, potentially at its maintenance hub in Poland.

Lockheed is planning to build more maintenance hubs in Western European countries, Australia, and East Asia. The company is also expanding production of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and Long-Range Anti-Ship Missiles to meet increasing demand. A recent $130 million contract will support the increased production rate.