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Added on the 23/02/2024 17:18:31 - Copyright : AFPTV - First images
Footage released by the US Air Force, shot on 14 March 2023, shows two Russian Su-27 aircraft flying close to a US MQ-9 unmanned aircraft over the Black Sea. The US Air Force has said the Russian jets conducted "an unsafe and unprofessional intercept", dumping fuel on the aircraft and striking its propeller, forcing Washington to bring down the MQ-9 Reaper drone in international waters. Moscow denied its aircraft had damaged the unmanned drone and said on Wednesday that it would try to retrieve the wreckage and also warned that it would react "proportionately" to any future US "provocations" as tensions. IMAGES
"When it comes to fighter combat aircraft, of course, they are part of the conversation" says British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he says nothing is off the table when it comes to UK military aid for Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelensky has been stepping up his demands for Western help ahead of talks with EU leaders. SOUNDBITE
On the last day of a NATO summit in Madrid, United States President Joe Biden says that the US "should sell" modern F-16 fighter jets to Turkey when asked by a journalist as to whether he offered them to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a quid pro quo. "It's not in our interest not to do that", he adds. SOUNDBITE
French Defence minister Florence Parly attends a ceremony in India marking the induction of Rafale fighter jets into the Indian Air Force. India has bought 36 Rafale fighters from France in a deal estimated to be worth $9.4 billion. All are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2021. IMAGES
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urges allies to deliver "more weapons to drive Russian forces off our land", in a meeting of Kyiv's backers at the US Ramstein air base in Germany. SOUNDBITE
Supporters of Zambian President Lungu hold a rally in Lusaka during a tense presidential race, which has been marked by clashes between rival supporters. The presidential election will take place on Thursday. IMAGES.