TR Air Forces|News & Discussion

[Strong AI]

The Turkish Air Force’s Second Test Squadron: 403rd Squadron and Air-ARMERKOM Inaugurated

The 403rd Squadron, established as the second test squadron of the Turkish Air Force, and Air-ARMERKOM were inaugurated by the Commander of the Air Force, General Ziya Cemal Kadıoğlu.

In the statement made by the Air Force Command regarding the center, the following information was shared:

“To maximize the national aviation and defense industry capabilities of our country and the Turkish Air Force, to conduct R&D processes using scientific methods for the indigenous technologies needed in air and space systems, and to develop, test, and produce verified operational capabilities for our national fighter jets, the inauguration ceremony of Air-ARMERKOM and the 403rd Test Squadron Command was attended.”

What is ARMERKOM?

Standing for “Research Center Command,” the concept of ARMERKOM was first initiated by the Turkish Naval Forces. Established in 1975, ARMERKOM has made significant contributions to engineering design and field experience in numerous projects, including ADVENT, GENESIS, MİLGEM, and ZAHA.

Efforts have been underway for some time to establish a similar structure for the Turkish Air Force. Located at the Mürted Air Base Command, Air-ARMERKOM will work primarily with TUSAŞ and other defense companies. It will play a key role in the faster integration of next-generation systems into the inventory and in planning future-oriented projects.

Enhancing Technological Capability

Two new structures have officially started operating to increase the technological capabilities of the Air Force Command, implement national solutions integrated with mission systems, and institutionalize the Air Force’s platform testing competence.

The Research Center Command aims to closely follow global technological developments and combat needs, contribute to scientific infrastructure shaping the future of air platforms through engineering and R&D efforts, and carry out prototype production and system testing.

Currently, the Turkish Air Force’s first test squadron, the 401st, operates under the 1st Main Jet Base Command.

Many munitions tests are conducted by the squadron in coordination with the Eskişehir Air Maintenance Factory Directorate.

Second Test Squadron

The 403rd Test Squadron Command will be tasked with development and certification flight tests—especially of new-generation national platforms like KAAN and HÜRJET developed by TUSAŞ—as well as performance, safety, and operational capability verification in coordination with manufacturers using expert personnel.

These two strategic units will enable the following capabilities:

• The Turkish Air Force will not only be a user but also a technical decision-making authority directly contributing to system development.
• Integration with the domestic defense industry, responsiveness to field requirements, and independence will be significantly strengthened.

Established with the vision that “The future is in the skies,” these structures will contribute greatly to the Turkish Air Force’s technological future, inspire confidence in our nation, assurance to our allies, and strength to our deterrence.

Türk Hava Kuvvetleri’nin ikinci test filosu: 403’üncü Filo ve Hava-ARMERKOM açıldı – Tolga Özbek

tolgaozbek.com

 

[Strong AI]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1928416470628786517

An F-22 belonging to the U.S. Air Force and a KC-46A Pegasus refueling aircraft narrowly avoided a major danger in the air. In the incident that occurred on July 8 off the U.S. East Coast, the refueling boom of the KC-46A broke off during an in-flight refueling of an F-22. Both aircraft declared an emergency.
[...]
This is the second such incident in the past year. The previous one occurred in August 2024 during a refueling operation between KC-46s and F-15Es.

F-22’ye yakıt ikmalinde KC-46’nın ‘boom’u koptu – Tolga Özbek

tolgaozbek.com

 

[Sanchez]

Güler and air force chief met with BAE CEO and British ambassador.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1941113306342978025

Hoping it was fruitful and stuff are being finalized.

"On defense, the two sides vowed to "pursue joint export campaigns" to secure international orders for equipment they co-produce, including the Typhoon Eurofighter jet and the Boxer armored vehicle."

Germany and UK sign historic post-Brexit friendship treaty – DW – 07/17/2025

The UK and Germany have agreed a friendship treaty aimed at resetting the countries' post-Brexit relations. The treaty comes nearly a decade after Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

www.dw.com

This is probably how the German government will sell the EF deal internally.

-
Come on already...

 

[IC3M@N FX]

We would need at least 40 Tranche 4/5 (+20 optional) of these so that no one in the area surrounding Turkey gets any silly ideas. With the F-16 Özgür II + Akinci & TB2/3, we would have enough time until 2033/34 to make TAI KAAN, Kizilelma and Anka 3 really operational (the platform already exists, but it will take time before it actually works).

 

[Strong AI]

"On defense, the two sides vowed to "pursue joint export campaigns" to secure international orders for equipment they co-produce, including the Typhoon Eurofighter jet and the Boxer armored vehicle."

Germany and UK sign historic post-Brexit friendship treaty – DW – 07/17/2025

The UK and Germany have agreed a friendship treaty aimed at resetting the countries' post-Brexit relations. The treaty comes nearly a decade after Britain's vote to leave the European Union.

www.dw.com

This is probably how the German government will sell the EF deal internally.

-
Come on already...

View attachment 76442

In response to a journalist's question, "Did you speak with Starmer about the export of the Eurofighter Typhoon? Are you ready to deliver them to Turkey?" Merz said, "We have not yet made a decision on export permits, but we are moving toward a good decision that would enable or provide such an export license. We will wait and see, but I will not make any statement regarding which countries we are considering in this matter."

Almanya'dan Türkiye'ye Eurofighter müjdesi! Başbakan Merz duyurdu

Haber 7 - Almanya Başbakanı Friedrich Merz, Türkiye’ye Eurofighter Typhoon'un ihracatına ilişkin, "İhracat izinleri konusunda henüz bir karar almadık, ancak ihracat lisansını mümkün kılacak veya sağlayacak iyi bir karara doğru ilerliyoruz" dedi.

www.haber7.com

 

[TR_123456]

In response to a journalist's question, "Did you speak with Starmer about the export of the Eurofighter Typhoon? Are you ready to deliver them to Turkey?" Merz said, "We have not yet made a decision on export permits, but we are moving toward a good decision that would enable or provide such an export license. We will wait and see, but I will not make any statement regarding which countries we are considering in this matter."

Almanya'dan Türkiye'ye Eurofighter müjdesi! Başbakan Merz duyurdu

Haber 7 - Almanya Başbakanı Friedrich Merz, Türkiye’ye Eurofighter Typhoon'un ihracatına ilişkin, "İhracat izinleri konusunda henüz bir karar almadık, ancak ihracat lisansını mümkün kılacak veya sağlayacak iyi bir karara doğru ilerliyoruz" dedi.

www.haber7.com

This is no confirmation but the Turkish news outlet prints it as a confirmation.
''Almanyadan Türkiyeye Eurofighter müjdesi ........''
Dumb idiots.

 

[Strong AI]

This is no confirmation but the Turkish news outlet prints it as a confirmation.
''Almanyadan Türkiyeye Eurofighter müjdesi ........''
Dumb idiots.

Yeah, it is literally in the text written that there is no harbinger yet. Turkish media...

 

[Sanchez]

"Turkey Nears Preliminary Deal for Eurofighter Combat Jet Order, Sources Say​

A principle of agreement could be announced at an industry fair in Istanbul​

Turkey could announce a preliminary deal for a multibillion-dollar order of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets as early as this week, according to two people familiar with the negotiations, in what would be a boost for Europe’s defense industry and an aircraft program that has become overshadowed by the U.S. F-35.

The contract, which analysts estimate could be worth around $5.6 billion, will apply to around 40 jets. But sources said the exact number and aircraft configuration are still being negotiated."

https://www.wsj.com/business/turkey-nears-preliminary-deal-for-eurofighter-combat-jet-order-sources-say-8cb2e959

 

[Hannibal]

"Turkey Nears Preliminary Deal for Eurofighter Combat Jet Order, Sources Say​

A principle of agreement could be announced at an industry fair in Istanbul​

Turkey could announce a preliminary deal for a multibillion-dollar order of Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets as early as this week, according to two people familiar with the negotiations, in what would be a boost for Europe’s defense industry and an aircraft program that has become overshadowed by the U.S. F-35.

The contract, which analysts estimate could be worth around $5.6 billion, will apply to around 40 jets. But sources said the exact number and aircraft configuration are still being negotiated."

https://www.wsj.com/business/turkey-nears-preliminary-deal-for-eurofighter-combat-jet-order-sources-say-8cb2e959

They realised those F-35s will never come to Turkiye after what happened in Syria with Israel.

Israelis would eat grass before they let Turkiye get F-35. Because that’s their only card in the region now = air superiority.

 

[Sanchez]

Because that’s their only card in the region now = air superiority

Well it literally is a trump card, so they do have a point!

 

[Strong AI]

trump card

Ba Dum Tss!

 

[Strong AI]

When KAAN enters mass production, they gonna start to fear us (actually it looks like they already do).

REACTION FROM ISRAELI OPPOSITION LEADER ON EUROFIGHTER DEAL
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid made a statement on social media platform X, criticizing the Turkish government's move to purchase Eurofighter jets. He said, “If Israel had a functioning Foreign Ministry or a normal government, it would have already prevented Germany and the UK from reaching an agreement to sell the ‘Eurofighter Typhoon 4.5’ aircraft to Turkey.”

TURKEY’S DEFENSE INDUSTRY ADVANCEMENT ALARMS ISRAEL
Lapid added, “Turkey already has the largest and most powerful navy in the Middle East, and now it aims to balance airspace power with Israel. This is dangerous and dysfunctional. Our government allowed this deal to move forward but did nothing to stop it.”

Türkiye'nin Eurofighter kararına ilk tepki İsrail'den geldi!

Haber 7 - İsrailli muhalif lider Yair Lapid Türkiye'nin Eurofighter Typhoon anlaşmasının İsrail hükümetini tehlikeye soktuğunu belirterek Netanyahu ve devlet yöneticilerinin tepki göstermemesini sert bir dille eleştirdi.

www.haber7.com

 

[Strong AI]

The F-16 Block 70’s Turkish Air Force configuration is being showcased at Lockheed Martin’s stand at IDEF.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1947623478783279527

 

[Oublious]

@TheInsider

According to Ardan Zenturk we will buy the first batch EF but after that some kind joint development.

 

[Samba]

Since LM has showcased Turkish F16- 70 mockup, can we expect some news regarding the delivery schedule. We already paid some money too...

 

[Sanchez]

but after that some kind joint development

He doesn't say development but production, akin to F-16 production in Turkey. Which would be so much more than what we expected.

 

[Oublious]

He doesn't say development but production, akin to F-16 production in Turkey. Which would be so much more than what we expected.

yes wrong translate from me, now the puzzle is complete Germans did not wanted give licence production .

 

[TheInsider]

@TheInsider

According to Ardan Zenturk we will buy the first batch EF but after that some kind joint development.

I doubt this. I think Turkish weapons and subsystem integration are on the agenda.

 

[Yasar_TR]

He doesn't say development but production, akin to F-16 production in Turkey. Which would be so much more than what we expected.

In fact he is talking about Starmer and Merz agreeing on a kind of parallel production licence being given to Turkey to overcome the hurdle of Germany agreeing to the export licence.

Somehow a form of production licence to be given to Turkey similar to the production of the F16s.

That means, TuAF must think, since these planes will be valid till post 2060s, it could be the workhorse of the airforce until KAANs are in full swing. That means they must be envisaging more than just 2 squadrons being purchased. If we are to co-produce them with the consortium members, it will be more economical and it will generate more customers for the planes too. This may be a win win situation for us. We will have one foot in the room with the likes of BAE Systems and Airbus.

 

[Sanchez]

In fact he is talking about Starmer and Merz agreeing on a kind of parallel production licence being given to Turkey to overcome the hurdle of Germany agreeing to the export licence.

Somehow a form of production licence to be given to Turkey similar to the production of the F16s.

That means, TuAF must think, since these planes will be valid till post 2060s, it could be the workhorse of the airforce until KAANs are in full swing. That means they must be envisaging more than just 2 squadrons being purchased. If we are to co-produce them with the consortium members, it will be more economical and it will generate more customers for the planes too. This may be a win win situation for us. We will have one foot in the room with the likes of BAE Systems and Airbus.

Disagree. "Export license" in that sense is given to the companies by German government to allow the export of the aircraft, tech, munitions etc. Not an export license to Turkey. There's nothing to circumvent there, there's no Eurofighter without the work of German companies. No production line can work without work from other countries, no one member of the consortium can just say fuck it and build it themselves, they have to share.

I think we can expect final assembly and some production to be made here if people are speaking to Zentürk of all people so openly. Weapons integration is already given, that's the whole point of the Eurofighter, all members own it equally and can fix it to their needs. Weapons integration will take time, but it will happen. But on spares, Turkey will no doubt will want even parallel lines to be built here.

On subsystems being replaced by Turkish ones, I'm less optimistic, it's not a platform we know much about.