The USAF recently purchased 21 MiG-29's from Moldova, in order to prevent their acquisition by Iran. It is believed the aircraft will be put to good use in DACT (Dissimilar Air Combat Training) exercises. Most airframes are Fulcrum-Cs, although some -Bs and -As were also purchased. The -C models are capable of nuclear delivery and will be thoroughly examined at Wright-Patterson before beginning operations late next year. It is expected that the MiG-29s will replace some of the F-16s currently used in the aggressor role. ...

General Electric Aircraft Engines has launched a program to manufacture an improved engine, meant to be installed in aircraft competing for the next Israeli purchase of US combat airplanes. ...

General Electric has committed itself to funding development of the F110-GE-129 Enhanced Fighter Engine (EFE) to full flight qualification, currently scheduled for December 1999. The EFE program is not currently funded by the US Department of Defense. To meet the needs of all F-15 and F-16 users (USAF and international), GE will develop a 129 retrofit program to incorporate EFE technology in existing and new-production engines. ...

Bahrain finally decided to buy 8new Lockheed Martin Block 40 F-16 C/D aircraft, with an option for four more, rather than purchase 2nd-hand A/B models that were also offered by the US. The deal is subject to US release of some technology associated with the aircraft, and the request is currently under review. ...

About eighteen F-16s and 400 airmen from Moody Air Force Base at Valdosta, Ga., have been ordered to Bahrain as part of the continued buildup of U.S. military forces in the Persian Gulf. The planes, part of Moody's 347th Wing, will be joined by aircraft-- including F-15 fighters and B-1 bombers -- from other bases to make up the 347th Expeditionary Wing. ...

Thomson Training & Simulation (TT&S), a subsidiary of Thomson CSF, has been selected by Lockheed Martin Tactical Aircraft Systems to produce an F-16A simulator for the Pakistan Air Force. The decision, which marks the 16th simulator produced by TT&S for the F-16A, was made at the Dubai 97 Air Show on 18 November 1997. ...

The USAF's 64th Agressor Squadron will reform at Nellis AFB later this year, with a mix of F-15C/Ds and F-16C/Ds - the first of which has all ready been delivered. ...

It has been known for some time that Israel is looking for as much as 100 new fighters by the turn of the century. ...

The U.S. commerce secretary Tuesday threw his weight behind Lockheed Martin's bid to supply the UAE and Saudi Arabia with warplanes, saying the U.S. aerospace industry accounted for 850, 000 jobs. ...

In the next month, the F-16 Systems Program Office at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is to present its evaluation of the F-16aircraft "Gold Strike" program to Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Michael Ryan. ...

The Pentagon said yesterday that South Korea is seeking spare parts for a range of aircraft, radar and missile systems under a $160 million deal. ...

The Pentagon said Wednesday that Singapore seeks $287 million in services and support for its F-16C/D fighters including a new 20mm cannon, modifications and maintenance, training, spare parts and support equipment. ...

Bahrain has told the United States it wants to buy 12 additionalF-16s. But the Gulf Arab state has not yet decided whether it will buy the planes new or used from U.S. Air Force stocks. In 1987 Bahrain bought 12 F-16s under the Peace Crown program. Now they have notified Congress that they want to buy 12 more -- either new or from inventory, similar to what Jordan did. Without weapons systems, an F-16 sells for about $30 million. ...

The U.S. Congress has urged the Clinton administration not to supply arms to Indonesia that could be used in East Timor. Indonesia invaded the former Portuguese colony of East Timor in 1975 and annexed it in 1976. The United Nations has refused to recognize the annexation. ...

Portugal will upgrade 20 of its F-16 fighters with modification kits bought from LMTAS. The deal, worth about $185 million, would also include support equipment, training, technical assistance and spare parts. ...

Ecuador hopes to procure up to 50 fighters to match Peru's recent purchase of MiG-29s from Belarus. Ecuadorian leaders have met with US officials to discuss the possible acquisition of Lockheed Martin F-16 or Boeing F/A-18 aircraft. ...

Taiwan is seeking $420 million in pilot training and support for its F-16fighter jets and spare parts for a wide range of Taipei's military aircraft. ...

There is a slight chance that Slovenia will buy 10 to 12 F-16s in the not-too-distant future. ...

Two ASRAAMs were fired from an F-16 at the US Air Force's Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. The first was the firing of the final `dispersion round' and was used to gather vibration and seeker dome heating data. ...

A French News Agency reported that the Turkish Airforce is currently negotiating on the assembly of 24 additional Block 50 F-16 C/D's. Some of these are believed to be attrition replacements. The Turkish AF has so far lost 12 F-16 aircraft. ...

An Air Force Reserve F-16C from the 4557th FS "spads", 301st FW, Carswell Air Reserve Station, Texas, crashed at approximately 1:15 p. m. Nov. 6th. The aircraft crashed near Sidney, Texas, about 75 miles west-southwest of Fort Worth. The pilot, Col. Thomas A. Dyches, the second-in-command of the Air Force Reserve, ejected safely. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was part of a two-ship formation performing basic fighter maneuvers. The aircraft was carrying no live weapons. ...

In order to counter the expansion of the Turkish Air Force, which will field about 240F-16C/D aircraft by the turn of the century, the Hellenic AF is looking for up to 60 additional fighter aircraft....

Turkish special forces on Wednesday destroyed dummy anti-aircraft missile launchers in northern Cyprus in a warning to Greek Cypriots over armament plans. ...