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27.12.2006
Cihan News Agency
US Lockheed Martin to upgrade Turkish F16 fighters
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Corp. released a statement on Tuesday, having
won a contract worth $635 million to upgrade Turkey’s fleet of F-16 fighter
jets. The agreement includes upgrading of 216 F-16 fighters operated by
Turkish Air Forces.
The modernization project is planned to continue until year 2016 and is
aimed at prolonging the fighters’ term of service, and improving their
equipment.
The agreement is a continuation of the preliminary agreement signed in June
2005. Besides the modernization of F-16C and F-16D type fighters, the
Texas-based company will take on flight tests, educational and technical
support.
The modernization process will mostly be carried out on the Lockheed Martin
facilities in Fort Worth, Texas along with the premises of Tusas Aerospace
Industries (TAI) in Turkey.
Willy Moore, vice president of Lockheed Martin, the largest U.S. military
contractor, expressed their content to bear responsibility for the
modernization project.
Turkey has also decided to purchase 100 F-35 fighters to meet the demand for
next-generation fighters.
TAI will participate in the 20-year F-35 manufacturing project, which is
worth more than $10 billion under the leadership of Lockheed Martin.
The new age fighters are scheduled to arrive in Turkey by 2014. Until then,
Turkey will purchase 30 of the engine-upgraded `Block 50′ F-16 fighters from
the United States to meet the current demand for fighter aircraft.
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