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It was Turkiye that wanted a more advanced fighter than F-16. F-35 became unavailable. The 2 western fighters with a minimum of US content were Eurofighter and Rafale. Rafale was not worth suggesting. Eurofighter was available fairly quickly, so I suggested it when problems with supply of F-16...

I have lived in Britain for most of my life. I have seen dozens of anti-Israel demonstrations. I have not seen any pro-Israel demonstrations. You mention earlier that the 2020 election was fixed. If you are referring to the US presidential elections, not one allegation was upheld when heard in...

Gazprom is the largest employer in Russia with nearly half a million employees. Its financial results show a dramatic turnaround. https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/gazprom-swings-net-loss-129-billion-under-russian-standards-2024-ifx-reports-2025-03-17/ I don't think that the Russian...

I think that democracy gives you the right to express your discontent with the incumbent government. If that government bans public expression of discontent and attempts to enforce that anti-democratic behaviour, it is creating problems. Should demonstrators beat police? No. Should police beat...

No, I don't think that Ukraine can fight forever. I don't think that Russia can fight forever either. I think that Ukraine should conduct a fighting retreat with a view to conserving manpower. Ukraine lost about 4,000sq km in 2024. Even if that rose to 20,000 sq km in 2025, it would take Russia...

Unfortunately for Ukraine, the European countries have been slow to ramp up weapons production. About Russian territorial gains, some context is needed. Ukraine holds about 480,000 sq km of its territory. If Russia gained 48 sq km of territory a day it would take it 10,000 days to occupy all...

Is the purchase price that important? Over 6000 hours of use, how much does $5 million more or $5 million less in the purchase price matter? Not being political here, but in my opinion the US and Turkish leaders both display autocratic, anti-democratic behaviour. Does this similarity improve...

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...