TR Air Forces|News & Discussion

[hugh]

President Erdoğan to discuss F-35 purchase with Trump

President Erdoğan will meet with Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

According to Bloomberg, Turkey wants to purchase a total of 40 F-35 and 40 F-16 fighter jets.

An assurance proposal regarding the S-400 system will be offered.

A supply permit for F110 & F404 engines will be requested.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1937460120008446463

So we want, 40 F35s, 40 Eurofighter and 40 F16s. What is it with this number? Also we learn that they won't even supply the F404s for Hürjet. That's worrisome considering we have no local solution to them for the next 10 years or so.

 

[Strong AI]

Also we learn that they won't even supply the F404s for Hürjet.

Now, about the engine. Any developments on the F110 for Kaan or F404 for Hürjet? Especially since things warmed up with the US after Trump returned.
We’ve had applications in for a while both for the F110 and F404. They’re currently in the US Congress phase. I visited the US last month to discuss this, and none of the officials foresee major issues. As you said, with Trump’s return and improving US-Turkey ties, the outlook is positive. Especially for the F404 being a trainer engine, restrictions are lighter than for fighter engines. The process might take time due to administrative reshuffling, but we hope for good news in a few months. We’re continuing as if approval is certain.

"We expect good news about HÜRJET's engine any day now."

So they are still waiting, interesting.

 

[Sanchez]

Erdogan to Seek Support From Merz for Eurofighter Sale to Turkey​

"Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to seek support from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz for the sale of Eurofighter jets to Turkey at talks on the sidelines of the NATO summit."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-06-24/erdogan-to-seek-support-from-merz-for-eurofighter-sale-to-turkey

Erdoğan is planning to lobby both Merz and Trump for respective aircraft programs on NATO summit. Those sideline talks take 1 hour at most and first 20 minutes are about courtesies.

Gives you a clue on how fucked we are and about the urgency. I don't expect much.

 

[Azeri441]

President Erdoğan to discuss F-35 purchase with Trump

President Erdoğan will meet with Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit.

According to Bloomberg, Turkey wants to purchase a total of 40 F-35 and 40 F-16 fighter jets.

An assurance proposal regarding the S-400 system will be offered.

A supply permit for F110 & F404 engines will be requested.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1937460120008446463

So we want, 40 F35s, 40 Eurofighter and 40 F16s. What is it with this number? Also we learn that they won't even supply the F404s for Hürjet. That's worrisome considering we have no local solution to them for the next 10 years or so.

80 F-35s and 40 Eurofighters would be a much better purchase, F-35s to clear up AD systems and Eurofighters to act as bomb/missile trucks

 

[hugh]

80 F-35s and 40 Eurofighters would be a much better purchase, F-35s to clear up AD systems and Eurofighters to act as bomb/missile trucks

I legit fear that they won't even give us the damn engines and you're saying we'd be better off buying 80 F35s instead of 40.

 

[Azeri441]

I legit fear that they won't even give us the damn engines and you're saying we'd be better off buying 80 F35s instead of 40.

if they are not gonna give engines, then I don't there will be a deal for 80 US fighters to begin with

 

[IC3M@N FX]

Then there will be other possibilities to get engines elsewhere as an interim solution, you act as if there are no more alternatives on the market.
The Shenyang WS-10 Block C or D, for example has FADEC (this is based on the CFM56 engine which is essentially the core of the F101/F-110 family) it comes quite close to the F-110 in terms of performance and durability parameters, or even slightly above it, while at the same time it is only slightly longer than the F-110, the weight and diameter are about the same.
The Chinese would probably even offer a technology transfer, and quickly deliver e.g. 80 engines.
Just to drive a wedge within NATO that they distrust Turkey, which they have always done, see the sanctions and embargoes in the past by the US & EU.

To be clear, the US & EU are not friends and never will be.
If they could and if the damage to themselves was not so great, they would have wanted to break up Turkey in several pieces long ago. Only the massive fear and absolute resistance keeps them from doing so.

 

[mTT]

Then there will be other possibilities to get engines elsewhere as an interim solution, you act as if there are no more alternatives on the market.
The Shenyang WS-10 Block C or D, for example has FADEC (this is based on the CFM56 engine which is essentially the core of the F101/F-110 family) it comes quite close to the F-110 in terms of performance and durability parameters, or even slightly above it, while at the same time it is only slightly longer than the F-110, the weight and diameter are about the same.
The Chinese would probably even offer a technology transfer, and quickly deliver e.g. 80 engines.
Just to drive a wedge within NATO that they distrust Turkey, which they have always done, see the sanctions and embargoes in the past by the US & EU.

To be clear, the US & EU are not friends and never will be.
If they could and if the damage to themselves was not so great, they would have wanted to break up Turkey in several pieces long ago. Only the massive fear and absolute resistance keeps them from doing so.

Would our procurement of engines from China be supported by the United States, or would it provoke a reaction from Trump?

 

[IC3M@N FX]

The motor question is essentially a key action.

The US/Israel do not want to deliver, because this would promote Turkey's independence even more. They do not want to strengthen Turkey. However, they are in a dilemma because they are in a bind.

The US also does not want Turkey to manufacture its own technologies, but this path is already so irreversible that it cannot be reversed.
At present, Turkey is 83-85% independent in terms of armaments.
The US/Israel knows that any pressure will only accelerate the program further.

They also do not want Turkey to obtain technology from China, because Turkey would get 100% of it, including technology transfer, even in space, hypersonic technologies, and semiconductors.
This is a nightmare for the US/Israel because they are aware that they are in a quandary. They are playing for time, saying neither yes nor no to the F-16, F-110 engine, and F-35, and are delaying and waiting for a favorable opportunity to exert pressure.
Turkey deliberately keeps bringing up this issue to exert pressure; they want to push for a decision, as with the S-400 deal.

This is because Turkey is well aware of the strategic maneuvering of the US/Israel and is continuing to push for technological independence, obtaining technology transfers from the EU (Spain, Italy), the UK, South Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan (actually China).
Turkey has deliberately established cooperation with southern European countries, which are also under US influence, but not nearly as much as western European countries. Furthermore, the Israeli lobby has no influence in Spain and Italy, and there is little to no diaspora in South Europe and South Korea.

 

[Strong AI]

International Anatolian Eagle-2025 Exercise has started.

 

[Strong AI]

Same talk as usual, but here...

Answering questions from members of the press, Erdoğan stated that negotiations on the Eurofighter are progressing positively, saying, “We have held and are continuing to hold talks with both the UK and Germany, and there are positive developments on this issue.”

President Erdoğan: “We discussed the F-35 issue. We paid 1.3 to 1.4 billion dollars regarding the F-35 program, and we saw that Mr. Trump was well-intentioned about delivering the F-35s.”

Erdoğan Lahey'de konuştu: İsrailli gazetecinin sorusuna net cevap! F-35'ler alınacak mı?

Haber 7 - Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "Uluslararası kurumlar, İsrail'i durdumakta yetersiz kalıyor, İsrail ihlallerine her geçen gün yenilerini ekliyor" dedi.

www.haber7.com

 

[Sanchez]

Mr. Trump was well-intentioned about delivering the F-35s.”

Erdoğan Lahey'de konuştu: İsrailli gazetecinin sorusuna net cevap! F-35'ler alınacak mı?

Haber 7 - Cumhurbaşkanı Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, "Uluslararası kurumlar, İsrail'i durdumakta yetersiz kalıyor, İsrail ihlallerine her geçen gün yenilerini ekliyor" dedi.

www.haber7.com

3 years later and they still don't know the most basic tenets of political system of our largest defence partner, or he simply don't understand it and his mind can't comprehend it. It's not up to Trump whether Turkey gets F-35s or not.

 

[Sanchez]

"Turkey can hope to soon receive modern Eurofighter fighter jets for its air force. Defense circles and senior officials from Germany expressed the expectation that the export deal will soon materialize.

Apparently, the German government intends to abandon its resistance. The news is likely to please Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz ( CDU ) on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague."

Handelsblatt

www.handelsblatt.com

 

[Oublious]

"Turkey can hope to soon receive modern Eurofighter fighter jets for its air force. Defense circles and senior officials from Germany expressed the expectation that the export deal will soon materialize.

Apparently, the German government intends to abandon its resistance. The news is likely to please Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who met with Chancellor Friedrich Merz ( CDU ) on Wednesday on the sidelines of the NATO summit in The Hague."

Handelsblatt

www.handelsblatt.com

Thats a good news, next thing is make the F16V deal and let the F35 go away.

 

[Sanchez]

Thats a good news, next thing is make the F16V deal and let the F35 go away.

Not to be pedantic but there's no good news until deal is signed, production starts, training starts and the units are delivered to Balıkesir and Konya.

So far, just one good signal. Hopefully it's signed before end of summer.

 

[Strong AI]

Not to be pedantic but there's no good news until deal is signed, production starts, training starts and the units are delivered to Balıkesir and Konya.

So far, just one good signal. Hopefully it's signed before end of summer.

I really want to know what went wrong with Viper deal. Like did USA say we have to buy the modernization kits too, or are we delaying it because of hope for F-35?

Imo EF and Viper will be enough until KAAN. Just tell them to put our already paid money for F-35 into the Viper deal.

 

[Sanchez]

I really want to know what went wrong with Viper deal. Like did USA say we have to buy the modernization kits too, or are we delaying it because of hope for F-35?

I wish we had defence media who could ask these questions...

Imo EF and Viper will be enough until KAAN. Just tell them to put our already paid money for F-35 into the Viper deal.

Don't know what enough really means. We still need the F-35. We need it to undertake future joint NATO missions, to undertake nuclear sharing missions, to defend against other F-35s and to study how it works and performs to develop Kaan for the future. There's still no aircraft like F-35.

 

[Strong AI]

I wish we had defence media who could ask these questions...



Don't know what enough really means. We still need the F-35. We need it to undertake future joint NATO missions, to undertake nuclear sharing missions, to defend against other F-35s and to study how it works and performs to develop Kaan for the future. There's still no aircraft like F-35.

I mean enough so no one comes up with stupid ideas.

Afaik F-16 can carry nuclear ordnance. Or what do you mean?

 

[Sanchez]

Afaik F-16 can carry nuclear ordnance. Or what do you mean?

I'm pretty sure Özgürs will not be able to and I'm not sure if F-16V is certified for it.

 

[TR_123456]

I mean enough so no one comes up with stupid ideas.

Afaik F-16 can carry nuclear ordnance. Or what do you mean?

So,you wouldnt want to know the ins and outs of the F-35?