Lockheed Martin

Defense Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos visited the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) facilities in Tanagra, north of Athens on Monday, to inspect maintenance work on the Hellenic Air Force's military transport aircraft (C-130) and the upgrades being installed on Greek F-16 fighter jets to bring them up to Viper level specifications.

Greece completed successfully on Sunday the first test run of an upgraded F-16 jet of the Hellenic Airforce, the Hellenic Aerospace Industry (EAV) announced on the same day.

The US-made warplane was upgraded to F-16 Viper level as part of a deal between Lockheed Martin and EAV to improve the capabilities of Greece's aging fleet.

It is either a new step of the North Atlantic Alliance towards the annexation of the countries of the Western Balkans to its structures or a mere modernization of technical capacities, Sputnik writes.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 25 that India will buy $3 billion worth of military equipment, including attack helicopters, as the two countries deepen defence and commercial ties in an attempt to balance the weight of China in the region.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Washington and Ankara had done little to solve a row over Turkey's purchase of Russian defenses and its procurement of US fighter jets despite a November agreement, according to broadcaster NTV.

Minister of National Defense Nicolae Ciuca was in Portugal for a two-day official visit at the invitation of his counterpart, Joao Gomes Cravinho, to set the main steps for the strengthening of the Romanian Air Force F-16 multirole aircraft fleet by the purchase of the next five fighter jets, the Defence Ministry said in a release.

China ranks second in the world in weapons production after the United States. Four Chinese companies in the industry are among the top 20 arms dealers in the world, according to a report by a Swedish research institute published today.

The world's largest weapons manufacturer, the US military technology giant Lockheed Martin, has expressed interest in developing new research projects in Romania, including in the field of new technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Turkish F-16 warplanes will fly over the country's capital Ankara on Monday to test its new Russian S-400 missile defenses, Turkish media said, despite pressure from Washington for Turkey to drop the system. 

Turkey bought S-400 missile defense systems from Russia to use them, not put them aside, the head of the Turkish Defense Industry Directorate said on Saturday, days after talks between President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and US President Donald Trump.