News

Venezuela threatens to give its F-16s to Cuba or China as the US is reluctant to sell us the spare parts. US laws strictly govern third party transfers but Chávez cautioned that "failure to perform the agreement allows for either party to waive it."

Washington OKs deal between Romania and Israel; Bucharest will purchase dozens of F-16 aircrafts from Israel in a deal worth around USD 150 million.

The combat capability of the Republic of China Air Force's F-16 jets came under question Friday after it was revealed that two F-16s sent to sink an overturned cargo ship carrying a load of toxic chemicals Thursday fired four laser-guided bombs but failed to accomplish their mission.

On 25 October 2005, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Greece of 40 F-16C/D Block 52+ aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $3.1 billion.

Israel has frozen a lucrative contract with Venezuela Air Force to upgrade its F-16s under American pressure, according to the Israeli public radio.

The Chilean air force is in negotiations for the acquisition of 20 to 28 surplus Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s. The aircraft are needed to replace Chile's entire fleet of ageing Mirage-5MA and Mirage- 50C/FC aircraft, which are expensive to operate and maintain.

Poland will send an additional group of up to 24 pilots to the US for conversion onto the Lockheed Martin F-16C fighter. For that purpose Poland received USD40 million.

Pakistan will buy 77 F-16 jets from the U.S. which Washington will acquire from a third country, after they are fitted with the state-of-the-art equipment, Islamabad's Ambassador to America Gen (retd) Jehangir Karamat said.

A three-member delegation of Pratt & Whitney called on Air Chief Marshal Kaleem Saadat, Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force at Air Headquarters to present a plaque to the Chief of the Air Staff in recognition of flying the F-16, for over 100,000 accident-free flight hours.

The Danish Air Force has paid 30,000 krones (about $4,800) in damages to a local Santa Claus after its F-16s scared his only reindeer to death, Danish television reported Friday.

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (JCSC) General Muhammad Ehsanul Haq Khan turned up to be the first four-star general of Pakistan Army who flew the F-16 in action for one hour and seven minutes.

When Denmark graduated its first female fighter pilot, it was a special moment for the country. Now she is going through the Euro-NATO Joint Jet Pilot Training program here.

The Royal Thai Air Force hopes to buy sixteen F-16 jets which the USAF has been using in Afghanistan, under a barter trade agreement, incoming air force chief ACM Chalit Pukpasook said yesterday.

USAFE F-16s will take over the duties from the German air force to patrol the airspace of three Baltic nations starting from the end of this month, the US embassy in Lithuania said Wednesday.

An Israeli air force sergeant was arrested after being accused of attempting to damage an F-16 jet, the result of a dispute with his commander.