Turkey eyeing to buy Typhoons by 2020.

[A.V.]

Jet fighters top Turkey's defense shopping list

Continuing the modernization of its defense force after surviving the economic crisis, the costliest item on Turkey's to-do list is likely to be the purchase and upgrade of Air Force aircraft, according to procurement officials.


Turkey has already selected the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II as its next generation jet fighter and is planning to buy some 100 platforms worth at least $12 billion. The aircraft is being developed and manufactured by an international consortium, led by the U.S. Lockheed Martin and including Turkish companies.


Lockheed Martin is also producing 30 modern F-16 Block 50 fighters worth roughly $1.8 billion for the Turkish air force. These aircraft are planned as a stop-gap solution until the expected delivery of the F-35s starting in 2016 or 2017.


In addition, Lockheed Martin is modernizing Turkey's existing older F-16s for a deal worth nearly $1.2 billion. Moreover, Turkey may decide by 2020 to buy a fleet of Eurofighter Typhoons, another new model fighter aircraft being manufactured by the European Eurofighter consortium.


http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=jet-fighters-top-turkeys-defense-buy-list-2010-04-19

 

[Singh]

Why would TuAF go for Typhoon ? Unless they are nervous about F-35 ? or they want to block Typhoons for Greece ? or they want to escalate the arms race ? Interesting times ahead. Spectacular defence modernisation by Turkey though.

 

[sob]

I do not understand the need for Turkey to go in for the Typhoon, with 100 F 35 and the new F 16s and the modernisation in progress. The only thing that comes out that they may like to have more say on the Bosporus.