Turkish and Israeli teams met early this month in an attempt to advance a potential $500 million programme to upgrade another 30 Turkish air force McDonnell Douglas F-4 fighters. The parties are negotiating a Turkish defence ministry request to perform the work in Turkey using kits supplied by Israel Aircraft Industries, which has already modernised 53 Turkish F-4s.
Source: Flight International
The January incident at Ellsworth AFB resulted in the destruction of the $450 million bomber and a rare quadruple ejection of the crew, who were attempting to execute an instrument landing during poor weather.
Athens signed a long-sought letter of offer and acceptance with airframer Lockheed Martin covering 20 F-35 stealth fighters, with options for a further 20 jets.
The joint North American Aerospace Defense Command dispatched fighter aircraft from both the USA and Canada on 24 July to intercept a combined flight of bombers from Russia and China operating in international airspace around Alaska.
