News

Aircraft from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Air Force joined forces for a training exercise at Royal Air Force Lakenheath Aug. 17 to 19. Excalibur, a multination bombing competition, is an opportunity for aircrew members to test their skills and pit their wits against each other.

Six F-16s from the Royal Danish Air Force are headed to the Nevada desert in the United States to participate in Red Flag, one of the most realistic training scenarios in the world for combat aircraft.

Combining two aircraft missions into one is not an easy feat, but that is exactly what engineers and pilots from here and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., are testing. In the process, they have also combined operational and developmental into one testing effort.

Lockheed Martin held ceremonies at its Fort Worth, Tex., facility yesterday to celebrate the delivery of the first F-16 aircraft to the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO).

The Belgian Secretary of Defence - A. Flahaut - visited Afghanistan on July 22nd till 24th, where he paid a visit to the Belgian troops, contributing to the "ISAF" (International Security Assistance Force) 'peace force' under NATO command in Kondoz and Kabul.

The Bush administration has approved an initial shipment to Pakistan of two older but refurbished F-16s, a down payment on what is expected to be a larger sale of newer U.S. fighters over Indian objections, congressional sources briefed on the plan said on Friday.

Greece will acquire 30 F-16C/D block 52+ aircraft in the next 5 years.The decision has been taken by the State Council of Foreign Affairs and Defense (KYSEA) today.

Four F-16 jet fighters of the Belgian Air Force departed to Afghanistan on Wednesday morning to join their Dutch collegues who are stationed there already since April 1st.

The Netherlands is sending three F-16 jet fighters with search equipment to Aruba to help in the search for Natalee Holloway, a teenager from Alabama who disappeared May 30 during a school trip.

Lockheed Martin flew the first F-16 (#851) produced for the Chilean Air Force on its initial production acceptance flight. Two flights were successfully accomplished on June 23, with no discrepancies reported on either flight.

The US has agreed to extend a Taipei-Washington pact to train Taiwan's F16 pilots for five more years, a Taiwanese newspaper said yesterday.

The two versions of the F-16 being delivered to customers now are the most advanced multi-role fighter aircraft types currently available on the international market and are building on the F-16's reputation for effectiveness and value, the Lockheed Martin general manager for the program said today.

Thailand is considering to purchase F-16C/D fighters from the United States with a total budget of 1.13 billion US dollars, said the Commander of Royal Thai Airforce. The Thai airforce has contacted Lockheed Martin and both parties are now studying the conditions of the deal.

Marine pilots occasionally wonder what it would be like to fly against jets other than their own. Marine Corps Air Station Miramar aviators received the chance to test their curiosity May 11 to 24 against the Colorado Air National Guard's aircraft.

Today, the Belgian government decided to send 4 F-16 fighters together with a 65 men detachment of both the 2nd FW of Florennes AB and the 10th FW of Kleine Brogel AB to Kabul International Airport for an initial period of 6 months.