The South Korean air force has grounded its fleet of 49 locally built Lockheed Martin Block 52 F-16C/Ds, following the loss on 18 September - the second recorded in six weeks - of the Pratt & Whitney F100-229-powered fighter because of an engine flame-out. An air force investigation into the earlier crash on 6 August has concluded that combustion-chamber fuel starvation was the most probable cause.
Source: Flight International
The January incident at Ellsworth AFB resulted in the destruction of the $450 million bomber and a rare quadruple ejection of the crew, who were attempting to execute an instrument landing during poor weather.
Athens signed a long-sought letter of offer and acceptance with airframer Lockheed Martin covering 20 F-35 stealth fighters, with options for a further 20 jets.
The joint North American Aerospace Defense Command dispatched fighter aircraft from both the USA and Canada on 24 July to intercept a combined flight of bombers from Russia and China operating in international airspace around Alaska.
