TURAF planned to buy 134 f35. F35A was never going to be TURAF's main fighter, it was supposed to take the place of F4s. 116+18 F35 was going to bought in a long time process, for example initially only paid and ordered 4. 130 F35 is approximately 25b$, it would cost Turkey probably 55b$ from 2020s to 2060s to keep 130 F-35s on air and flying.TAI and its contractors were gonna produce parts that worth at least 15b$ also TAI was going to be one of the two major maintainance place in EU and ME beside Italy. 35b$ deficit in 40 years is basicly 1b$ on air forces budget which is not substantial enough to slow down TF-X project.
TF-X has nothing to do with F35, the project was conceptualized in early 2010's, air force made their plans according to getting both F35+TF-X. TF-X was to replace f16s.
There is nothing good about getting expelled from JSF. It made us money and was going to make air force number 1 by far in the region.
in fact air force did not have to buy f-35 if they preffered TF-X, for example Canada another tier-3 partner did not buy f35s arguing they are too expensive for so long up until this year, they did not order for 12 years from 2010 to 2022. We could just say buying f-35 is not good cause US put limitations and just let TAI earn that $ and go on with the TF-X project.
A detailed analysis without ideological bigotry, positives and negatives of JSF for Turkey can be read here
Yazar, bu yazıdan önce 8 adet F-35 uçağını inceleyen yazı yazmış, konuya ağırlıklı olarak Türkiye perspektifinden yaklaşmıştır. Bu sonuncu yazıda, F-35 programından çıkarılmak Türkiye için Kayıp mı olmuştur yoksa kazanç mı olmuştur sorusuna cevap aramıştır.
strasam.org
Pls explain to me how possessing around 135 F35s doesnt equate to it being the Turks' main fighter? As far as my info goes, Turkey planned to eventually replace all of its F16s with F35s which means that it was going to become the main fighter jet of Turkey
Moreover, what you said about the monetary gains is 100% spot on but you have failed to realise 4 main things:
1- While the F35 project will give Turkey billions in revenues, it would have jeopardised Turkish foreign policy as its military would have literally been crippled and at the mercy of US decision makers within the Pentagon since the software of the plane can be easily shut down from Washington. Just imagine Turkey using it to hit PKK targets only for the plane to immediately shut down before even flying
2- Turkey, as you said, initiated the TFX program since 2010 but initial plans was to have the prototype roll out in 2028 or 2029 which is 5 more years from now. Moreover, with the recent events, who knows what the lovely West would have embargoed by 2028 or 2029. Furthermore, what ACTUALLY helped in speeding up the TFX program was the involvement of BAE and they only got involved to obtain data that they can use while building their 6th generation fighter at free cost since most of the money was paid by Turkey. Imagine if BAE, by 2029, refuses to help Turkey as they didnt need further help due to the fact that they may have completed the initial prototype? (Just for thought though as nothing is certain)
3- As you said before, F35 will rack in billions for Turkey but that is nothing more than a short-term gain! However, by speeding up both the TFX program and its indiginisation process, Turkey not only acquired its own domestic jet to meet its foreign policy and army needs at cheaper prices but also initiated an intricate network of infrastructure and technological expertise that wont only serve TAI but the whole Turkish economy in all of its branches in terms of employment, productivity, and export since the TFX will be exported in the dozens to numerous countries. Just imagine how much money would Turkey make from regular maintenance and ammunition repair
4- Finally, the F35 is obviously a beautiful jet but as I said long ago, it is still a failed project. The initial project aim was to have a replacement for the jack of all trades, the F16 at a reasonable price and cheap operational cost. The F35 didnt meet all of the criteria sadly; while it is a beast in electronic warfare and air-to-ground operations, its hourly operation cost is astronomical, its routinely RAM coating is bloody hell expensive, its repair is way too expensive, and its air-to-air combat ability isnt as good as the F22, F16, F18, or F15. Operating and maintaining a whooping 135 F35s will just break the Turkish army balance sheets whixh is just dumb
The Ukraine-Russia war proved how you need to be cheap, effective, and deadly at the same time and Turkey with F35s doesnt have the budget to finance these money pitholes. Maybe in the future they may get cheaper but nothing is set in stone for now
