Special to WorldTribune.com LONDON — The Joint Strike Fighter, designed as a low-budget fighter-jet, has now exceeded $150 million per unit. Britain, a leading partner in the JSF program, reported that the F-35 cost more than $150 million. British Defense Secretary Philip Hammond said the rising cost could hamper his government’s procurement plans. “It’s [procurement] […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ISTANBUL — Turkey has been awarded billions of dollars worth of subcontracts without the purchase of the Joint Strike Fighter. Lockheed Martin has pledged to provide Turkey with at least $12 billion in subcontracts for the production of the F-35 fighter-jet. The pledge came despite Turkey’s refusal to place an order for […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — Tunisia has become the first African country to receive an advanced U.S.-origin military air transport. On April 4, Tunisia took formal delivery of the first of two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft from Lockheed Martin. “Fifteen countries have already selected the C-130J to meet their airlift requirements,” L-M vice president George […]
Special to WorldTribune.com TEL AVIV — The Israel Air Force has been preparing to receive its first advanced air transport from the United States. The Air Force has been laying the groundwork for the arrival of the C-130J aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. L-M said the first of three Super Hercules would arrive in Israel […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey, frustrated over delays, has been examining an alternative to the U.S.-origin Joint Strike Fighter. Officials and defense industry sources said the Turkish Air Force and the government’s Defense Industry Undersecretariat have begun to consider an interim solution to JSF, a $1 trillion program plagued by production and development delays […]
Special to WorldTribune.com ANKARA — Turkey has delayed its first order of the Joint Strike Fighter from the United States. Turkey’s Defense Industry Undersecretariat has suspended plans to purchase two F-35 fighter-jets from Lockheed Martin. The agency, known as SSM, cited rising costs as well as technical flaws in the aircraft. “Due to the current […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The U.S. Air Force has trained Iraqis to fly their nation’s new C-130J air transports. The United States has been instructing Iraqi pilots to fly the C-130J air transport. The U.S. Air Force has already graduated 16 Iraqis to fly and maintain the new C-130J fleet delivered to Baghdad. “These […]
Special to WorldTribune.com WASHINGTON — The United States has advanced a project to supply Israel with the Joint Strike Fighter. The Defense Department has awarded Lockheed Martin a $206.8 million contract for the F-35 to Israel. Under the contract, L-M would administer system development and demonstration for the F-35A conventional takeoff and landing aircraft. “This […]
Special to WorldTribune.com CAIRO — The United States has assured Egypt that it would receive advanced fighter-jets over the next two years. “We have a history of working with the Egyptian military leadership,” Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said. “We will continue to provide the aid and assistance we can to help them in this effort.” […]
Special to WorldTribune.com BAGHDAD — Kurdistan has urged the United States to halt its F-16 multi-role fighter project with Iraq. Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) President Massoud Barzani warned that Iraq would use the F-16s against the autonomous region of Kurdistan. Barzani said Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki has already raised the prospect that Baghdad […]