Search results

I'll leave the detail to others who are better informed. In short, the aircraft that flew a year ago was not originally intended for flight. Later this year the next prototype should be completed.

True, a lot of foreign exchange gone on stabilising the lira. As you say, countries will not be selling fighters for lira, so the CB would have to find more foreign exchange. I wonder how dependent is Turkiye on tourism for FX? Images like these are not going to help bookings

I don't quite follow the comment on an Israeli veto on F-35. If they have one, how come Turkiye joined the F-35 programme in the first place? If Eurofighter's main attraction is Meteor but a deal is not arranged, would Gripen E be of interest (if Sweden would supply)?

Sorry, did not see that anywhere.

How would anyone know what is going on in a country where the press is not free? 1 I support a free press. 2 I support free elections. 3 I am opposed to people being detained if they are opposed to governments. By the way, I was detained for 18 months in a one party dictatorship. Not for...

Agreed, the UK fails to provide the social services it has promised to supply to its people. With respect, I do not see that as anywhere near as serious as trying to undermine the UK's democracy. If you think about it, a political party with a majority in the national assembly could pass a law...

I am not really in a position to research those pretexts for arrest. Don't speak Turkish and even if I did, the press is largely in Erdogan's pocket, isn't it? Hearing that journalists who oppose Erdogan are arrested in Turkiye also means that I would not be able to hear both sides of the story.

I see Eurofighter supply to Turkiye (assuming that Turkiye actually agrees terms for a deal) as a contest between one faction wanting to benefit the European MIC and another wanting to defend democracy in Europe. Out of curiosity, is Eurofighter of interest simply to counter Greece's Rafale? Is...

You have your views on democracy. I have my mine, which I have shared with my prime minister regarding the supply of Eurofighter to Turkiye. I will credit the Turkish political leadership with one thing - Turkish forces have clearly not been authorised to use lethal force against the thousands...

Any reason why Kaan should be built in Pakistan, rather than be supplied from Turkiye? I read here and there of a plant being planned for Pakistan.

I said that what is happening inside Turkiye makes the supply of Eurofighter less likely. Do you think that the supply of Eurofighter to Turkiye is as likely as it was before Erdogan locked up the mayor of Istanbul? Funny how a university qualification awarded some time ago was suddenly...

I agree that Israel appears to be seen as a special case by many countries, allowed to commit whatever war crimes it chooses. I find it shameful that the UK does not stand against this behaviour more actively. I object to my country being involved in arms supply to Israel due to its abuses of...

The disturbing behaviour by the Turkish president is a blatant attack on democracy. If the leader of a democratic state prevents candidates from standing for election by locking them up or disqualifying them, that is an attack on democracy. Unfortunately for the Turkish air force the UK public...

Several countries that are allied to the US (or perhaps more correctly that were allied to the US) are now trying to distance themselves from the US in terms of weapons procurement. Why would Turkiye want F-35 from an unpredictable, unreliable supplier?

An engine deal should be done this year. How many times have I heard that sort of thing? Such and such will be done before such and such date. The date arrives without it having been done and without comment. I do wonder whether acknowledging failure is too much to stomach so it is...

How does this relate to France supplying more M2K to Ukraine while Trump and Putin strip Ukraine of assets yet the EU countries, UK, Norway and Canada remain committed to supporting Ukraine?

https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2025/03/17/france-commits-to-more-mirage-2000-5f-fighters-for-ukraine/ I am not sure that buddy vultures Putin and Trump have grasped that it is not for them to divide the meat of a dying country between themselves. Europe+Canada will continue their efforts keep...

Any view on what average freedom in Russia tells? Or rather, as you suggest, median freedom in Russia.

It is not warmongering to say if Russia gets away with attacking Ukraine it is likely to attack Europe. Moldova is not in a position to defend itself. If Russia is in a position to attack it, I think it very likely that it will.

Yes, the Europeans want the war to end but not at the cost of a sovereign democratic state surrendering and disappearing after being attacked by an autocratic dictatorship. Allowing Russia to gain from its aggression would encourage it to start further wars against neighbouring states. As for...