Turkey wants to buy a squadron of USAF F-16 Vipers, a move that could spell an end to the planned upgrade of 48 F-4E fighter aircraft by Israel, according to Turkish Daily News. (It’s neighbor and sometimes nemesis, Greece, late last year said it would buy 30 more F-16s, with an option for another 10.) What effect this proposed purchase would have on Ankara’s deliberations to buy either the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter or the Eurofighter or a combination of the two is unclear. Turkey is a partner in the F-35s system development and demonstration phase, but has not announced its intent to purchase the JSF.
Lt. Gen. Dan Caine, nominee to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the Defense Department needs to upgrade its electronic warfare capability and its EW training ranges; just as his predecessor said at his own confirmation hearing.