Pratt & Whitney has given work for 'critical components' of its F135 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) engine to two Turkish companies, Alp Aviation and KaleKalip. Letters of intent were signed with both companies yesterday at the show. Alp Aviation will manufacture the F135's fan rear hub, and KaleKalip the compressor shrouds as part of the JSF offset work awarded to countries joining the programme. Turkey joined the JSF development effort in July 2002.
Source: Flight Daily News
The dismissal of Ukrainian air force commander Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuck comes just days after the service lost its first Western-supplied F-16 fighter, with rumours swirling about a possible friendly fire incident.
UK Lockheed Martin F-35Bs have practised short take-off operations during their debut NATO Enhanced Air Policing deployment to Keflavik, Iceland.
The American-made fighter is believed to have gone down while defending against a large Russian air attack on 27 August, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.
