Royal Air Force

Britain's Royal Air Force said on Thursday Typhoons based in Romania were scrambled in response to Russian aircraft operating near NATO airspace over the Black Sea.

Britain's Charles, Prince of Wales, Greek Defence Minister Panos Kammenos and Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff Evangelos Apostolakis look at the Red Arrows RAF aerobatics display team in Athens, on Thursday. [Reuters]

Bulgaria's Ministry of Defence will submit its proposals to procure new fighter jets and armored vehicles to the Council of Ministers this March, according to Defence Minister Krasimir Karakachanov.

The minister told public broadcaster BNT that Bulgaria will seek offers "for new and secondhand aircraft" to "find the best prices and the best options."

The military ministry wants to buy four training aircraft and a simulator for BGN 2.54 mln. The Ministry has already announced a public contract and awaits offers. The MoD plans to conclude a 48-month framework agreement, in which 4 instructors and 20 engineers will be trained. Military aviation is currently on the brink and is flying few machines.

Britain’s F-35B fighter jets currently cost around $123m each – and British officials are quite content that the only engine overhaul facility for the stealth aircraft’s engines is located in Turkey.

Turkish fighter jets proceeded to violate Greek national airspace over the Aegean Sea on Thursday. Two armed F-16 fighter jets and a pair of CN-235 reconnaissance aircraft violated Greek airspace a total of 37 times. The Greek air force responded by scrambling F-16 fighters and intercepting the incoming aircraft in accordance with international laws of engagement.

A Russian fighter jet came within five feet of a U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the Baltic Sea on Monday, in an encounter the American pilot determined was unsafe.
The incident occurred Monday morning as an RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft flew in international airspace above the Baltic Sea.

A small explosion occurred outside a police station at a British base in Cyprus early on Tuesday, authorities said, adding it was being treated as a criminal investigation.

British base authorities said one police officer suffered "very minor injuries" and there was superficial damage to the entrance of the station at Dhekelia, known as the Eastern Sovereign Base Area.

The Israeli look on the “INIOHOS 2017″ international exercise conducted in Greece:

Security concerns have been raised about plans to carry out major servicing work on the UK’s new F-35 fighter jets in Turkey.

SNP MP George Kerevan is to call for an inquiry into the policy in the light of last year’s attempted coup in Turkey and tensions with its Nato partners.

Major repairs to RAF combat jets have previously been carried out in the UK.