The US Defence Department on Wednesday told Congress it had approved the sale to Greece of 40 Lockheed Martin Corp F-16C/D fighter jets and associated equipment, in a deal valued at up to $3.1 billion.

The Pentagon's Defence Security and Co-operation Agency said Greece requested the sale of the 40 Block 52 fighter jets with F100-PW-229 engines and APG-68(V)9 radars; night vision goggles, ground stations, reconnaissance pods and various weapons.

Copyright Reuters, 2005