The first paragraph, throws a spanner in the works of what Tusas/Aselsan have been doing all this time with respect to “Özgür” modernisation.Not likely, Our F16 are bought via FMS thus US won't allow it unlike previous small updates. And they can stop selling f16 spare parts and F16V to us. Until, We have no choice or US approves this, Aesa won't be used on our F16s.
Akıncı Aesa tests, would speed up Mius integrations. IMHO, Kızılelma with good Aesa engine and Gökdoğan missile is invaluable to Turkey.
If this were the case, why were they so verbal and loud about this modernisation? Heck! They even used a plane to modernise it to the right specs. And stated very openly that the Block 30 planes will have the first Aesa radars. It is not logical and doesn’t make sense if it were not possible.
Our F16s we’re purchased under the FMS umbrella but produced under BPC program (Building Partner Capacity). It is governed by quite different rules. (please see page 16 of below document). The validity of the untouchability of the planes are probably written in the small print somewhere. But most FMS documents have a validity no longer than 30 years. Plus as Tusas was the manufacturing party, certain titles of ownership may have already been transferred. That is why it was announced that our f16s were to have indigenous Aesa radars.
Do you have concrete evidence to support your claim? Because that is totally against what the whole country was told by the officials to date.
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