The Romanian Air Force is to equip its F-16s with the AIM-9X Block II air-to-air missile. (Romanian Air Force)

The United States has approved the sale of 300 RTX AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder short-range air-to-air missiles to Romania, announcing a potential USD340.8 million sale on 14 May.

The US Department of State approval covers the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of the missiles for the Romanian Air Force (RoAF) fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16AM/BM Block 15 Mid-Life Update (MLU) combat aircraft, as well as training missiles, related equipment, training, and support.

“The proposed sale will improve Romania's capability to meet current and future threats by providing air-to-air missiles for its F-16 fleet in support of NATO's defence mission,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.

Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft on the ramp at Nellis Air Force Base in the US. Consortium partner BAE Systems has confirmed that the country is looking to increase its fleet with additional aircraft. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Italy is set to buy additional Eurofighter Typhoon combat aircraft, with government approval to be sought in the third quarter (Q3) of 2024.

Consortium partner BAE Systems confirmed the potential sale, which Janes first reported from the IQPC International Fighter conference (IFC) in November 2023, with a senior company official saying on 14 May that Italy is looking to add to the 96 Eurofighters it has already received, of which 94 remain in service.

“Italy is now looking at more core aircraft,” Mike Baulkwill, Combat Air Strategy director at BAE Systems said, adding, “There will be a parliamentary process over the summer to look at a further buy.”

Baulkwill did not disclose further details, but Janes

With the Eurofighter Typhoon set to remain in global service through into the 2060s, the LTE package is an essential element in maintaining the capabilities of the jet while also attracting new and follow-on customers. (Leonardo)

The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency (NETMA) has launched the activities phase of the Eurofighter Long Term Evolution (LTE) project, awarding its first contracts to industry.

Speaking at BAE System's Warton production facility in northern England on 14 May, David Hulme, Eurofighter programme director for the consortium member, disclosed the milestone that came five years after the LTE project was launched with the first study contracts awarded at the Paris Air Show in 2019.

“LTE early-activities contracts have been awarded, and these will start a three-year technology maturation programme,” Hulme said.

Also known as Eurofighter Evolution (and sometimes Typhoon Evolution), LTE is being developed concurrent to the ongoing Phase Enhancement (PE) upgrade packages, and is geared at taking the aircraft's capabilities out to beyond these PE packages.