NATO-operated Lockheed Martin F-16 fighters will be assigned to Lithuania's Zokniai AB following the country's entry to the expanded alliance on 1 May. To provide limited air defence services to the Baltic states, the four-aircraft commitment will be rotated between the air forces of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands, with Norway to provide air traffic control services. Russia has voiced its opposition to the 17 March agreement.
Source: Flight International
Italy has begun the process of acquiring another batch of 24 Eurofighter Typhoons to replace the oldest examples of the multirole fighter in its fleet.
MBDA is to assemble Brimstone air-to-surface missiles in Germany for the first time, following its receipt of a contract to equip the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighter combat aircraft.
The US government has blacklisted more private companies over alleged connections to the training of Chinese military aviators, including two firms operated by former test pilots in the UK Royal Air Force and South African Air Force.
