Aircraft
Fighter Fleets in the Balkans Undergoing Renewal
A number of nations in the Balkans are updating their fighter fleets, with the F-16 leading the way as used aircraft being sold to Croatia and Romania
One of Romania's ex-Portuguese F-16s undertakes refueling practice with a U.S. Air Force tanker earlier this month. (photo: U.S. Air Force)
One of Romania's ex-Portuguese F-16s undertakes refueling practice with a U.S. Air Force tanker earlier this month. (photo: U.S. Air Force)

The Balkans countries (a number of them belonging to NATO) are on the threshold of replacing their older fighters of Soviet/Russian design with newer, Western aircraft. Serbia alone, a Russian ally, has opted for more Russian-made aircraft, although the country recently ordered nine Airbus Helicopters H145M multi-purpose rotary-wing aircraft with the HForce weapons kit.