TR Turkish Air Forces|News & Discussion

[Yasar_TR]

Can TurAF use the F16 as a bomber aircraft?

TFX will replace current F16 fleet.
F35 was meant to replace F4 Terminators as bombers.
Can we use the F16 being replaced as bomber aircraft and retire F4?

It all depends on what you understand from the terminology “bomber”.
If F4 2000 were bombers in your view with a 8400kg useful payload capacity, f16 planes with a maximum payload capacity of 7500 kg are not falling too far short of that understanding.
F35 in beast mode could handle 22000lb (10000kg) according to specifications. So they would have performed bombing sorties with more efficiency.
A true bomber is a plane that can carry any type of bomb in high numbers. Like B52 or B1.
With the introduction of smart bombs in to the battlefield however, planes like f16 or f15 which are originally made for air superiority missions, can be made to perform bombing missions. Hence multi purpose jet fighters. But these planes have a limited number of hard points on them to accommodate limited number of specific bombs. If the bomb is too big, the hard points on wings may not be suitable to carry them. This would restrict the number and type of bombs a fighter jet can carry. So bombing missions and planes’ configurations will have to be arranged accordingly.

 

[MarcusZidanta]

It all depends on what you understand from the terminology “bomber”.
If F4 2000 were bombers in your view with a 8400kg useful payload capacity, f16 planes with a maximum payload capacity of 7500 kg are not falling too far short of that understanding.
F35 in beast mode could handle 22000lb (10000kg) according to specifications. So they would have performed bombing sorties with more efficiency.
A true bomber is a plane that can carry any type of bomb in high numbers. Like B52 or B1.
With the introduction of smart bombs in to the battlefield however, planes like f16 or f15 which are originally made for air superiority missions, can be made to perform bombing missions. Hence multi purpose jet fighters. But these planes have a limited number of hard points on them to accommodate limited number of specific bombs. If the bomb is too big, the hard points on wings may not be suitable to carry them. This would restrict the number and type of bombs a fighter jet can carry. So bombing missions and planes’ configurations will have to be arranged accordingly.

Do you think TurAF will use the F16s as bombers until a stealth bomber version of the TFX is released? This route seems most sensible, as F4s are really dangerous to fly, a south korean F4 recently crashed I think.

I don't see Turkey getting F35s even after Erdogan is gone.

 

[B_A]

Do you think TurAF will use the F16s as bombers until a stealth bomber version of the TFX is released? This route seems most sensible, as F4s are really dangerous to fly, a south korean F4 recently crashed I think.

I don't see Turkey getting F35s even after Erdogan is gone.

Didn’t we use F-16 as bomber for 30 years?

until the drone came

 

[Manomed]

Do you think TurAF will use the F16s as bombers until a stealth bomber version of the TFX is released? This route seems most sensible, as F4s are really dangerous to fly, a south korean F4 recently crashed I think.

I don't see Turkey getting F35s even after Erdogan is gone.

Tbh F4 2020s are amazing when It comes to Air to ground missions.

 

[I_Love_F16]

Do you think TurAF will use the F16s as bombers until a stealth bomber version of the TFX is released? This route seems most sensible, as F4s are really dangerous to fly, a south korean F4 recently crashed I think.

I don't see Turkey getting F35s even after Erdogan is gone.

What would be the point for Turkiye to have bombers when they already use UAV’s for that matter ? Also developing and maintaining bombers would be too costly.

They are already starting to use Akinci for Air-to-Ground missions. Later when Kizilelma will be ready they will progressively start to phase out the F-16’s for that role.

There is also a stealth bomber currently in development by TAI called TISU.

 

[Zafer]

For the future: bomber, tanker, cargo, passenger planes can be made using the engines made for the TFX. 4 TFX engines can make any plane you want. We have all the infrastructure and people to make those planes.

 

[Ryder]

What would be the point for Turkiye to have bombers when they already use UAV’s for that matter ? Also developing and maintaining bombers would be too costly.

They are already starting to use Akinci for Air-to-Ground missions. Later when Kizilelma will be ready they will progressively start to phase out the F-16’s for that role.

There is also a stealth bomber currently in development by TAI called TISU.

B52s, B1s and the Tupolevs are expensive as hell also very vulernable.

These behemoth bombers only make sense in a total war scenario or a situation where war is close to between two powerful nations.

B52s and B1s basically acted as a detterent force.

Im really thinking their time is coming. Has anybody notice how Russia barely used any of its bombers in the invasion of Ukraine.

 

[Zafer]

We may need bomber size power projection where we need to deploy to medium distances like parts of Africa or Central Asia in short order.

 

[Yasar_TR]

Do you think TurAF will use the F16s as bombers until a stealth bomber version of the TFX is released? This route seems most sensible, as F4s are really dangerous to fly, a south korean F4 recently crashed I think.

I don't see Turkey getting F35s even after Erdogan is gone.

Under the scope of air to ground attack mission, a TFX in stealth mode will have very limited number of weapons to carry within it’s internal weapons bays. But it can carry a good deal of weapons on it’s external weapons. However this would detract from it’s stealth characteristics.
TFX, originally envisaged and planned as an air superiority fighter, has gone through a design change to be used as a multi role fighter after F35 debacle. Hence it will be good for both air to air combat and air to ground attack. So I wouldn’t expect a TFX variant for bombing only.
F16 planes will be operated by TurAF for a few decades to come. Having structural updates have increased the operational life of Block 30 planes from 8000hours to 12000hours. These 35 planes will have Ozgur modernisation with Aselsan built Aesa radars -hopefully starting from next year onwards-. This update will bring these planes to be as good if not better than V70 Block level. With the planned 40 new V70 purchase and 80 V70 kit upgrade and the Ozgur modernisation program planned, the Air Force will have around 270 block V70 level planes in it’s inventory before the end of this decade.
By 2035, we should have at least 6 operational squadrons of TFX in the inventory to bolster the striking force of TurAF.

 

[Baryshx]

Milli Savunma Bakanlığı heyeti F-16 tedariki ve modernizasyonu görüşmeleri için ABD'ye gitti

F-16 tedariki ve modernizasyonunun gerçekleştirilmesi amacıyla ABD'nin daveti üzerine Milli Savunma Bakanlığının (MSB) teknik heyetinin görüşmeler yapmak üzere ABD'ye gittiği bildirildi. - Anadolu Ajansı

www.aa.com.tr

"At the invitation of the USA, the technical delegation of the Ministry of National Defense went to the USA to hold talks with the aim of realizing the supply and modernization of the F-16 as soon as possible."

 

[Ecderha]

Sorry source is only Turkish.
In short picture show planned discussion between Turkiye and usa about F-16 and F-35

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1559106781204430849

 

[Ryder]

These discussions will be ruined by the Jewish, Greek and Armenian lobbies.

 

[Yasar_TR]

ASELSAN ile TUSAŞ, uçak modernizasyonu sözleşmesi imzaladı

ASELSAN ile TUSAŞ arasında uçak modernizasyonuna yönelik 671.451.904 TL ve 35.278.330 ABD Doları tutarında bir sözleşme imzalandı.

www.defenceturk.net

Tusas and Aselsan have signed a contract to implement OZGUR modernisation to the 35 or so Block 30 F16 planes in TuAF inventory.
We know that the serial production stage of parts for the OZGUR modernisation had been reached. Also we know that the first plane had been equipped with the relevant parts and had done trial flights.
Now they are formalising what had been going on behind the scenes.
Within the scope of the modernisation process worth over 35.2 million dollars, the Aesa radar being part of the modernisation process, had reached the integration and testing stages on the planes.
The modernisation of F16s to OZGUR status will not be limited to Block 30 planes. But may extend to Block 40 and even 50 planes too, Mr Demir had stated.
Deliveries of modernised planes will start in 2022 and will be finalised for the first batch by 2025.

 

[Oublious]

ASELSAN ile TUSAŞ, uçak modernizasyonu sözleşmesi imzaladı

ASELSAN ile TUSAŞ arasında uçak modernizasyonuna yönelik 671.451.904 TL ve 35.278.330 ABD Doları tutarında bir sözleşme imzalandı.

www.defenceturk.net

Tusas and Aselsan have signed a contract to implement OZGUR modernisation to the 35 or so Block 30 F16 planes in TuAF inventory.
We know that the serial production stage of parts for the OZGUR modernisation had been reached. Also we know that the first plane had been equipped with the relevant parts and had done trial flights.
Now they are formalising what had been going on behind the scenes.
Within the scope of the modernisation process worth over 35.2 million dollars, the Aesa radar being part of the modernisation process, had reached the integration and testing stages on the planes.
The modernisation of F16s to OZGUR status will not be limited to Block 30 planes. But may extend to Block 40 and even 50 planes too, Mr Demir had stated.
Deliveries of modernised planes will start in 2022 and will be finalised for the first batch by 2025.

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This means the radar is al tested and qualified....

 

[Brokengineer]

This means the radar is al tested and qualified....

That also means us has no choice to provide what is want in lor or we ll do it for all f16s

 

[Cenkcnk]

RTE says, If USA doesn't sell Vipers, we may look for other alternatives from France(!?) UK and RF (nope).
So, the decision has already been made, new planes will be purchased one way or another.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1568634916660826112

 

[what]

No sane person/country would buy anything Russian after the debacle in Ukraine.
Rafale? Depends on Macrons mood.

 

[Bmx98]

No sane person/country would buy anything Russian after the debacle in Ukraine.
Rafale? Depends on Macrons mood.

That's an unreasonable statement. The russian air force has barely participated in the invasion, even the little that they have done they've done it with cold war planes. If they offer SU-35 and SU-57 with ToT it would be a good deal for Turkey. Besides since Russia does not limit the modification of it's sold products Turkey can play around with them and put local subsystems such as Aselsan electronics or even maybe TEI engines in order to make them NATO-compatible.

 

[I_Love_F16]

Turkish Air Force would never choose Russian planes. Doesn't matter if Erdogan wants it or not, he's not the one to decide anyways.

 

[Fairon]

That's an unreasonable statement. The russian air force has barely participated in the invasion, even the little that they have done they've done it with cold war planes. If they offer SU-35 and SU-57 with ToT it would be a good deal for Turkey. Besides since Russia does not limit the modification of it's sold products Turkey can play around with them and put local subsystems such as Aselsan electronics or even maybe TEI engines in order to make them NATO-compatible.

Yes they did. This is the best Russian Air Force can do.

Considering the latest Russian technology level, probably you have to change so many things on SU57, it would be better to build a plane from scratch than trying to make the plane work. ToT you'd receibe probably be worthless in todays technology.

At this point SU57 is a vanity project like many recent Russian platforms.

Also what makes you think that Russians let us modify the planes as we want. We can't even fully maintain S400's by ourselves.