The first of 12 F-16C/D Block 50 Fighting Falcons ordered by the Sultanate of Oman has been delivered by Lockheed Martin.

The fighter was delivered earlier this month at the company's facility in Fort Worth and will be ferried to Oman later this year, Lockheed Martin said.

"Our partnership with Oman is a proud one," said Orlando Carvalho, executive vice president of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics. "Working together, we are not only producing new F-16s, but also upgrading their existing F-16 fleet to provide the Royal Air Force of Oman with a common advanced F-16 capability configuration."

Oman ordered the 12 new aircraft in 2011. The sultanate currently has a fleet of a dozen Fighting Falcons, which Lockheed is upgrading. Oman had ordered the original 12 planes in 2002, becoming the 23rd country to fly the fighter.

Lockheed Martin did not disclose a delivery schedule for the remaining 11 new aircraft.