The US Government has formally told the US Congress that it intends to supply Jordan with its first squadron of ex-US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16A/B fighters. Officials say that the long-discussed military-assistance deal, involving 12 F-16As and four F-16Bs, is expected to go through by the end of July. The deal was first disclosed by William Perry, the US defence chief, in Amman on 7 January. The Royal Jordanian Air Force now operates 33 Dassault Mirage EC/Es and 70 Northrop F-5E/Fs.
The plan is to replace the F-5s with the F-16s.
Source: Flight International
