Exactly my point. TurAF is so stretched thin, especially regarding fighters that, we cannot afford failing at KAAN. We cannot even afford small delays numbered in few years. It HAS to work and it HAS to work in time, or we are in deep shit. Underpowered KEs that can't talk to our F-16s like F-35s can between themselves and turboprop Akıncıs are not substitutes for fighter jets.
It didn't have to be this way. Can anyone imagine a scenario where we lose 5 years in achieving FOC for KAAN and Americans change their mind and don't supply us with subcomponents for Özgür? How does TurAF look in 2035 in that scenario?
I also think in our geography we really need double the number of jets we field. The number is good in relative peace, but i think if we ever had to engage in a full scale war with a nation being supplied from outside we need to be able sustain heavy material losses.
I don't expect us to be as stupid in war as Russia, but at the same time Russia invaded a relatively weak nation with ideal geography for invading. A small nothing nation like greece is a hundred times better armed then Ukraine and if war comes expect them to not only get support from the west, but support from Russia and support from much of the middle east.
*On a side note, if you have 500+ KAAN's, i doubt anyone is going to start a war with us.
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