Greece says it has signed an agreement with U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin that will allow a major upgrade of its F-16 fighter jet fleet over the next seven years as the country emerges from a financial crisis and faces renewed tension with neighbor and fellow NATO member Turkey. The defense ministry procurement agency announced Friday that the deal was signed Tuesday finalizing details of Lockheed's use of a Greek subcontractor. The defense minister, Nikos Panagiotopoulos, told parliament earlier this month that 84 F-16 jets would be upgraded by 2027 to the advanced-tech Viper class in a program estimated at $1.5 billion. He said the speed of the upgrade would be determined by how many aircraft are required to remain in active service.

Source: International New York Times December 27, 2019 20:26 UTC