Really wish we could go for EF T4 instead of F-16V.
Our hearts say that; and from tech point of view, EF2000 , especially the tranche 4 with the hybrid Aesa radar, is the far better plane.
Qatar paid 6 billion dollars for 24 planes. That is 250 million dollar a piece. Can we really afford that?
The only way we can buy those planes is to sign a comprehensive 80-120 plane order with partial local production of the plane and the licence production of the engines in Turkey. That will bring the plane prices in line with what the consortium is paying; making it somehow more affordable. But that will take so much funds away from more important projects like the TFX that it wouldn’t be feasible. Also the time it would take for first few squadrons to be with the airforce is most likely going to be unworkable.
Had we gone through with the EF2000 offer the consortium put on the table a couple of decades ago instead of F35, then we would have been operating those planes in multiple squadrons by now.
Unless we find huge hydrocarbon deposits in the next few months, our only option is to get the first block 4++ generation TFX squadrons flying before 2028 and put all our money and energy in to that project and in to the Ozgur modernisation with Murad Aesa radar.
Murad being the operative word there. As without Murad the whole Ozgur project is like a Lion without teeth.
Get a move on Aselsan! Enough of all these delays!