Stealth aircraft

Amid the ongoing delay regarding the sail of F-35 fighter jets to Greece, Hellenic American Leadership Council (HALC) Executive Director Endy Zemenides said in a letter to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that the progress of Greek-American relations should not be affected by the dysfunctional relationship observed between Washington and Ankara.

Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has announced Türkiye's intention to purchase Eurofighter Typhoon jets, shunning the controversial F-35s from the United States.

Romania plans to buy 32 latest-generation F-35 fighter jets from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin for 6.5 billion dollars, the defense ministry announced on Tuesday. 

Bucharest increased its defense spending to 2.5 percent of gross domestic product this year from 2 percent last year in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

On Thursday at noon, Athenian visitors and residents heard a deafening noise, which, as some may have noticed, came from three fleeting F-35 aircraft of the United States Air Force.

The F-35s had a permit to fly over the Acropolis at a 5,000 feet altitude.

The US State Department has approved the sale of F-35 fighter jets and related ammunition and equipment to the Czech Republic, the Pentagon announced yesterday, as quoted by Reuters.

The deal is worth 5.62 billion dollars.

Washington's concern over upsetting Turkey and jeopardizing Sweden's NATO membership appears to have drawn the Greek F-35 issue into the mix, delaying the official congressional notification, Kathimerini understands, until after the Vilnius Summit in July.

Washington is considering granting approval for the transfer of F-16 upgrade kits and the sale of 40 new F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, conditional on Turkey agreeing to transfer its existing fleet of older F-16s to Ukraine, broadcaster Haberturk has reported.

Romania will purchase F-35 Lightning II fighter jets from the US, the Supreme National Defense Council decided at its meeting today, BTA reported.

Members of Romania's Supreme Council of National Defense approved the so-called "Concept for achieving operational air defense capability with fifth-generation multi-role aircraft", announced the administration of President Klaus Iohannis.

The Greek Defense Ministry is expected to decide next week whether Athens will propose to Lockheed Martin the inclusion of SSI (security, supply, information) and infrastructure programs in the F-35 fighter jets package with the participation of the Greek defense industry.

The delegations of the Turkish Defense Ministry and the U.S. Department of Defense held the second round of F-35 fighter jets consultations in Washington on Jan. 19, Türkiye's Defense Ministry has informed.

"The delegations agreed upon the continuation of the consultations. The following meeting is scheduled to take place in Ankara in spring 2023," said the statement.