F-16 Block 70. Photo: Instagram @lockheedmartin
The United States has issued a foreign military notification, signaling the proposed sale of F-16 Block 70 fighters to Turkey and F-35A combat jets to Greece.
+ Watch the promotional video of the Turkish F-16 fighter
This notification informs about Turkey’s imminent acquisition of 40 sets of F-16 Block 70 fighters, along with 79 upgrade kits for the same model. Additionally, associated equipment within a budget of $23 billion is part of the agreement. Out of the total F-16 Block 70, 32 will have a single-seat configuration, while the remaining 8 will be configured in a two-seat arrangement.
The agreement for Turkey goes beyond the F-16s. It includes 48 F-110 turbofan engines, 149 AN/APG-83 AESA SABR radars, 168 integrated Viper electronic warfare kits, and 858 LAU-129 guided missile launchers. Also included are 44 M61 Vulcan cannons and 16 Sniper AN/AAQ-33 targeting pods.
F-35A. Photo: Instagram @usairforce
The sale also encompasses upgrade kits and a Service Life Extension Program [SLEP] to modify existing Turkish F-16 Block 40 and Block 50+ aircraft. This means that the necessary equipment to extend the lifespan of these aircraft will be part of the package provided by the U.S.
Regarding Greece, approval is underway for a purchase of $8.6 billion for 40 F-35A jets, which also includes various supplementary systems. These planes are intended to replace the fleet of F-4 and Mirage-2000 aircraft that Greece currently operates.
With formalities completed, both Greece and Turkey await approval of these agreements by the U.S. Congress. Depending on the final decisions made by the respective countries, the entire agreement could be concluded with a smaller budget.
Photo: Instagram @lockheedmartin / @usairforce
Video: Twitter @SavunmaSanayiST
