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Turkey could receive its first F-35 fighters in 2019
The Undersecretary for Defence Industries (SSM) Ismail Demir told the Turkish news broadcaster NTV that the Turkish Air Force would receive its first F-35s in 2019, reports Reuters.
These fighters would from the initial lot of 10 ordered in 2014.
In November 2016, the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) approved the Turkish Air Force’s order for a second batch of Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighters. Comprising of 24 fighters, deliveries from the second batch are scheduled to begin 2021 or 2022.
A major partner of the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, Turkey could order as many as 114 F-35s.
Notes & Comments:
Turkey joined the JSF program in 2002. Since then, ten Turkish defence industry companies have been involved in the program, including, among others, Alp Aviation, Aselsan, Kale Aerospace, Havelsan, Turkish Aerospace Industries, and Roketsan (in collaboration with Tubitak-SAGE).
Turkey will also be the sole-source supplier of some F-35 components, such as the panoramic cockpit display and landing gear up lock assemblies. As per Lockheed Martin, “engine production and overhaul [of the Pratt & Whitney F135] will take place at the 1st HIBM in Eskisehir.”
The Turkish Air Force plans to replace the F-4 Phantom II with the F-35 in the air-to-ground strike role. In that realm, the Turkish defence industry has been developing specialized hardware, including low radar cross-section (RCS) stand-off range munitions, for the Lightning II. While Turkey is still intent on developing and producing its own next-generation fighter (to supplant its F-16s), the F-35 is poised to be among the Turkish Air Force’s mainstay assets in the future.
6 Comments
by Shakeel
Turkey should remain fully engaged with its multifaceted relationship with the outside world. It must optimise on it’s pvotal location & it’s ability to adapt to real world scenario’s. It is a testamount to Turkey AKP party, that it managed to radically change the fortunes of Turkey to a coherent economic state (since 2002). AKP must try to reinvogarate itself with the same impetus.
My compatriot Baber Ali correctly highlights the political impasse created by Austia’s motion in November 2016 (as written by Bilal on Pak-Turkey dialogue). There is a clear orchestrated campaign to undermine Turkey, but I am confident that that Turkey will surpass such challenges.
Maligning Turkey with false propaganda will not hinder Turkey’s economic progress.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/10/23/turkeys-religious-nationalists-want-ottoman-borders-iraq-erdogan/
Turkey should maximise it’s gains from particpation of the F-35 programme. It should religiously try to master the art of engine production at all costs. TEI engines should embark on numerous alliances with various international partners to grow it’s list of joint ventures with eg. Britain, Ukraine, Russia, Sweden etc. Once Turkey surpasses this threshold, the world is at it’s oyster. India is trying to replicate this template with partnerships with Safran & GE aviation. If successful Indian will re-brand this achievement as ‘Made in India’ engines. You will then see India’s transition from enslaved history -‘Yes boss nation’ to ‘Pioneer of patents’. A contributing factor for India’s cold start doctrine resurgence.
Turkey does not have to make too much fuss about it’s achievement, because they have already acclimatised themselves on how to be’ Master of Europe’. It is not coincidental that Britain seeks it’s destiny outside of Europe.
by MT
It’s not fair to complete India with Turkey. India is by far among top 3largest economy and it even now invest similar % of its budget on r&d thanks to Indian corporations
Turkey although is medium income country but it is not home to local native big MNC CORPORATION AS India have produced.
Indian companies are way ahead of Turkey in civilian sector industrial complex from basic steel to automobiles and precision tools
But Turkey being part of western NATO and MTCR had access to most defence subsystem went on to allow privately sector into defence manufacturing/assembly which provided it lead over India where public sector mess hindered the progress.
But by all technological indicators such as patents, publishes papers ; india are miles ahead of Turkey in most research areas minus some electronic pieces where Turkey have some advantages.
Bangalore is the only city in India china and Asian region after Singapore Tokyo to be ranked in top 20innovation hubs with maximum no of startups & venture capitalists investment in last 24months
Trump entry is big blessings to India incase some highly-skilled Indian American working for top tech/defence giants decided to move back which ll accelerate develpment of Indian military industrial complex
India is not hegemon but a solid self sufficient industrial complex will envisage gradual rise of Indian economy and help India Focus more resources on education, health care& other social sector spendings.
by Ahmria
MT is still banging on about how great India and Indian technology is. If that is the case why is India not buying more Arjun tanks instead of T90s from Russia? As for aerospace technology your LCA has so much foreign technology in it especially the most critical like engines and radar. Turkey does have access to foreign tech but it is also now innovating and developing in a lot of these fields.
by Shakeel
Don’t worry about MT. His DNA goes through a similar dress rehearsal everyday.
India has BRIBED it’s way in acquiring turbofan engine technology & then he has the audacity to talk about no amount of money can be exhausted to acquire engine technology.
The rest of his spiel is purely a marketing theme to jettison India to some kind of glorious superpower, to offset it’s much dented history.
by Türker Demircan
Wow…Are you talking about India or UK, France?
You have almost same population with China but they are x5 bigger than you as nominal GDP ….. I think it is fair to compare like that
Turkey made 1,7 billion USD export (2015) on Defense and Aerospace, what is the number for India?
India’s the only advantage is its population which gives chance for big investments not to care about exports
I would suggest you to check Turkish capabilities below;
https://www.f35.com/global/participation/turkey-industrial-participation
114 F-35 x 85* millions USD = 9,7 billions USD < 12 billlions, Turkish industry's participate
* Unit price after LRIP-13
See, added value…..We are not a puppet in the Project…
by ahmria
The thing is Shakeel that MT seems to be really confused about the actual capability of Indian technology. DRDO is one of the biggest defense companies in India yet for all the money that has been lavished on them by the state for R&D the majority of their products do not work as advertised and the Indian government then spends even more money on foreign solutions. Consistently they are awarded contracts and even HAL with the Tejas has struggled with its development.
In terms of jet engine technology India has struggled and its no secret that jet engines are very complex and difficult to master that’s why the Chinese are still buying Russian engines because their engine tech is still not there yet.
India has asked for help with Tejas engines from the French and the Americans and still have to buy American engines for it as the Kaveri engine doesn’t work properly. All these technologies take decades to develop and a lot of it is also trial and error. India will get there eventually but its a long journey and they will also have to come down hard on the deeply embedded culture of corruption, and incompetent management/bureaucracy of these projects.