Repair of unique damage like formation mid-air's means that sometimes the USAF turns to very specialized people. For the F16, that is usually the 649th Combat Logistics Support Squadron or "CLSS" unit.

Qatar has been evaluating a range of Western fighter-jets as part of its air force modernization program. The Qatari Air Force has been proposed the F-16, Rafale, Gripen and Eurofighter by respectively the United States, France, Sweden and Germany.

The United States will designate Pakistan a major non-NATO ally in a move that will significantly enhance military co-operation between the two countries and make it easier for the country to acquire U.S. arms.

An interesting "op-ed" piece from Maariv International about the latest F-16 deal for Israel implies that given the current, even reduced threat that the IDF faces, the money could have been better spent elsewhere.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is in negotiations with French, Russian and US bidders to purchase 125 frontline multi-role fighter planes to partially replace about 300 MiG-21 aircraft.

Lockheed Martin completed a successful first flight yesterday of the initial F-16 Advanced Block 52 aircraft produced for Singapore.

AeroGroup, a civilian contractor located near Jacksonville, Florida, is supporting a deployment of Royal Netherlands Air Force F-16s at Cecil Field.

The first two of Israel's newest F-16I fighter jets (408, 409) landed at the Mizpe Ramon Israel Air Force base in the Negev this afternoon. It is the first batch of a total of 102 planes Israel has ordered from the United States. Named the Sufa ('Storm'), the two-seater jets form the first batch of a total of 102 planes Israel has ordered from the United States.

The Israel Air Force has quietly expressed frustration over the Defense Ministry's decision to accept a U.S.-made radar for the new F-16I Sufa.

Two days ago, a scrapped F-16 Fighting Falcon was put up for an EBay internet auction. The starting price was $1 million. The aircraft was being sold by the Landa Associates firm from Seattle which represents the interests of an anonymous aircraft seller.

The United Arab Emirates will take delivery of a first batch of the latest US-built F-16 jet fighters before the end of this year, after a long delay due to technical and logistic reasons.

Taiwan now has a hangar inside a mountainside capable of protecting up to 100 F-16 and Mirage fighter jets, and it now also has upgraded early-warning radar systems.

Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, is testing new planes in Ardmore's airspace (Oklahoma) over the next few months and citizens may hear a few sonic booms.

Britain, France and the United States have pledged to cooperate in forming the Air Warfare Center at the UAE air base at Al Dhafra. The air base will also be used by the United States to train UAE pilots on the new F-16 Block 60 aircraft.

The long time of waiting has come towards an ending. The New Israeli F-16I "Sufa" (storm) are scheduled for arrival on February 19th, 2004. The two first planes (408, 409) will arrive at Mizpe Ramon base.