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If Turkiye does not approve Sweden joining NATO, it will not get an F-16 deal. If it does, a deal may still not get approved by the US Congress. However, I remember reading that if Congress blocks a proposal by the president, that can be challenged. If I remember correctly, 2/3 of the members...

In international law a state attacked is allowed to defend itself with force but under international law there are rules applying to how you use force. Israel is not following those rules. It may be that a lot of people in Gaza would sympathise with any group prepared to use force to resist...

The apologists on both sides ignore the evil their side does, don't they? Ignore or deny or attribute the evil deeds of the side they support to their enemies. They are both opponents of fact. What weight do opinions or judgements have if not based on facts?

I think that the hospital was hit by a Hamas rocket that fell short. When I first heard reports of hundreds being killed outside the hospital I thought there must have been multiple bombs dropped by the Israeli air force to injure so many. Then I saw the one small crater a few centimetres deep...

When do these 'sensible groups' estimate this will happen?

The possibility for greater safety has been available for decades: Israel's withdrawal from areas occupied in 1967 and 1973 and the creation of two states. How much has Israel been troubled by Egypt since Israel withdrew from Sinai? While the Hamas attack in early October generated great...

One way to avoid al Quds being attacked would be for an independent force to inspect it to check that there is no Hamas bunker under it. A ceasefire while UN inspectors check it out? I suggest - inspect it - if there is no bunker, leave UN personnel there to ensure Hamas does not sneak in -...

That question should be put to both Hamas and Israeli government supporters. To what extend either of the two parties is responsible for the evil of the last three weeks is debatable. What is not debatable is that they are both responsible for evil actions in the last three weeks.

Many European countries voiced their support for Israel after the appalling acts committed in southern Israel by Hamas militants. In the UK popular pressure is rising against and inside political parties supporting Israel's blockade oo, bombing of and actions involving the Gaza strip because...

Even if the defence budget includes police costs, the 2024 budget is still planned to increase massively. Could some of the increase be so that Turkey's MOD can buy dollars to secure the currency risk regarding the F-16 deal? Any other large procurements that need to be paid in US dollars? I...

I think you need to have the engineering expertise to build aviation standard components to be invited to build components for F-35. What countries in the market for KAAN have the engineering expertise to build components for aircraft?

Usually if you want a weapons system your country does not produce, you buy it. Why should countries wishing to buy KAAN invest in the programme? Agreed, countries denied F-35 should be interested in the alternatives: KF-21, KAAN, AMCA (excluding Russian and Chinese types). I think that KAAN...

I read that the defence budget for next year will be increased enormously, to around 4% of GDP. No shortage of funding, it would seem. More, I wonder what it can all be spent on. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-allocate-150-more-defense-budget-2024-minister-2023-10-17/

Thanks to all for all the info. Back to KAAN development, I heard that a different undercarriage was being developed. If that is correct, how far has that progressed? I have the impression that once that is sorted, the prototype will be ready for flight. How many days are usually needed for...

Agreed. I should have said the value of the funds will be eaten into by inflation. Let us say that in year 1 you budget a billion lira to buy x, y and z in year 2. In year 2 x, y and z have risen 60% in price so they cannot be bought for a billion lira. Inflation has eaten into the value of...

When I drew attention to economic mismanagement (eg not dealing with inflation) I was not suggesting that the KAAN project would be cancelled. I was suggesting it would be difficult to find partners who would bring capital into the project. Inflation is 61.5% US$/lira exchange rate was 18.96...

The aviation press told me. https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/08/31/turkey-seeks-partners-for-tf-x-fighter-program-amid-fiscal-uncertainty/ PS Something that friendly countries could do is to indicate the level of orders they might place. Non-commital memoranda of understanding would be...

Annual inflation is reported to be 61.5%. In Europe it is more like 5%. It looks like the government is spectacularly incompetent at managing the economy. Will foreign countries be put off getting involved in the KAAN project? Would I invest in a venture in Turkiye which has an insane level...

My apologies. I was confused by thinking that plan was for the engine to be integrated on the KAAN in 2028 and to fly that year. I await seeing what results are shown by the TF6000 when it is run. Just a thought: the KAAN might fly before the Indian AMCA prototype construction and testing...

Thanks. It is speculative. I think I read it on a forum devoted to Tempest/GCAP. Dating back to 2020 - before the Tempest programme link up with Japan - here is a RR press release webpage which might be of interest...