Aviation

Greece proceeds with purchase of 20 Lockheed F-35 fighter jets

According to the country’s prime minister, Greece has issued a formal request to the United States to buy 20 F-35 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin. Greece spends more than 2% of its gross domestic product on defence. As a result, Greece has formally requested that the United States sell it .20 F-35 fighter jets built by Lockheed Martin. As tensions with its neighbour, historic rival and NATO ally Turkey, have reemerged in recent years, it has increased its military expenditure.

Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, a second order for the jets is being considered that “The purchase of an F-35 squadron with a second squadron potentially available is what we intend to do. As a part of this procedure, a Letter of Request (LoR) has been sent recently “After a NATO conference, Mitsotakis spoke the media. The first step in a multi-stage procedure is to submit a request, according to Mitsotakis, who also stated that the government planned the delivery of the jets to start in 2027–2028.

Greece and Turkey have been at conflict for decades over a number of issues, including overflights in the Aegean, the size of their continental shelf and maritime boundaries, energy resources, and the ethnically divided island of Cyprus. During a trip to the United States in May, Mitsotakis first referred to the purchase of F-35 aircraft. Last year, Athens placed orders for three French military frigates with an option for a fourth one, as well as 24 Dassault-built Rafale planes, totaling 2.5 billion euros ($2.60 billion).

State television station ERT reports that the military ministry reportedly intends to upgrade 38 F-16 fighter aircraft.

A day after Turkey dropped its objection to Finland and Sweden joining NATO, the United States endorsed the potential supply of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey on Wednesday, arguing that Turkey’s robust defence capabilities would reinforce NATO’s defences.

Aviation

COMAC Unveils Plans for the C929 to Rival Airbus and Boeing

After the success of China’s first C919 aircraft, the country is setting its sights on developing a larger plane. COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) has officially confirmed plans to build a widebody aircraft, marking a significant step in its aircraft lineup.

Traditionally, Airbus and Boeing dominate the widebody aircraft market, with decades of expertise in developing planes and engines capable of carrying heavy payloads. China, which currently relies on imported engines, is now aiming to challenge these giants with its own widebody jet, the C929, designed to compete with the Airbus A350 and Boeing 777.

American Airlines Is Looking for Flight Attendants: Apply Now

The C929 will be China’s first independently developed long-range widebody aircraft. It adheres to international airworthiness standards and boasts independent intellectual property rights. The baseline version is designed to seat 280 passengers and offers a range of 12,000 kilometers, catering to global demand for both regional and international air travel.

Russia, which also needs reliable narrowbody and widebody aircraft, could become a key customer for the C929. Additionally, China plans to target the broader Asian market as it continues to expand its aviation capabilities.

Close Call at Heathrow: BA Flight Narrowly Escapes Drone Collision

China’s aviation progress includes the ARJ21 (now called C909), a regional jet with 100 seats for shorter routes, and the C919, a narrowbody jet with 180 seats designed to rival the Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A320. Both models have found increasing demand in the domestic market.

At China’s largest air show in Zhuhai, COMAC announced that Air China will be the launch customer for the C929 widebody jet, though details about order size and delivery timelines were not disclosed.

Other major deals announced by COMAC include:

Hainan Airlines: Firm orders for 60 C919 and 40 C909 regional jets.
Colorful Guizhou Airlines: 30 C909 jets, with 20 firm orders and 10 provisional agreements.

The C929, renamed from the CR929 after Russia withdrew from the joint development project in 2023, is expected to carry 280–400 passengers with a range of 12,000 kilometers, competing directly with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner.

According to COMAC’s deputy general manager, Tong Yu, the first fuselage section of the C929 is expected by September 2027, with prototype test flights anticipated soon after.