Defence Q&A Why there is no F15 / F18 in Turkey ?

[Azbaroj]

Turkey is the 2nd largest user of F16 , but why Turkey didn't own F15 and F18 fighters ?

 

[Merzifonlu]

Turkey is the 2nd largest user of F16 , but why Turkey didn't own F15 and F18 fighters ?

Money. They also didn't want to sell the F15.

 

[Manomed]

Money. They also didn't want to sell the F15.

We should have bought those Iranian F14s when we had the chance, They were brand new and US was open to supply us with parts.

 

[Merzifonlu]

We should have bought those Iranian F14s when we had the chance, They were brand new and US was open to supply us with parts.

Nah. F14s have always been problematic aircraft. Don't be fooled by the fact that they are seen as handsome in movies. Engine problems are notorious.

F16 was best. Still best for us.

 

[Manomed]

Nah. F14s have always been problematic aircraft. Don't be fooled by the fact that they are seen as handsome in movies. Engine problems are notorious.

F16 was best. Still best for us.

Radar wise F14 could have helped TURAF a lot tbh

 

[Merzifonlu]

Radar wise F14 could have helped TURAF a lot tbh

True. The F14 had a very powerful radar.

In order to use that radar most effectively, the AIM-54 Phoenix missile was needed. There were two problems here, one potential and one real.

Potential problem: Would the USA give us those missiles? This is uncertain.

The real problem was this: Even the USA itself could not safely use those missiles, because the engines stopped due to the smoke emitted by the missiles during firing!

Because the engines of the F14 were originally designed for heavy bombers. Not for fighters. After the USA experienced these problems, it started to develop the F110 engines, which are the purebred fighter engines.

 

[Heartbang]

what about F18 tho?

 

[Merzifonlu]

what about F18 tho?

The F18 has an interesting story. While the F16 was being developed, the US Air Force had started the competition as usual. F16 was the winner of the competition. The F18, on the other hand, was developed on the basis of the aircraft that lost the aforementioned competition, upon the request of the Navy, which did not want to use the F16.

F18 was naturally expensive as it was a navalized body. In addition, the maintenance costs of twin-engine aircraft have always been higher. In short, F18 was not suitable for us financially. Besides, we did not have a ship to deploy aircraft. The choice of F16 was therefore correct.

Northrop YF-17 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Heartbang]

Besides, we did not have a ship to deploy aircraft.

Australian, Swiss, Kuwaiti, Finnish and Canadian air forces operate/operated F18s. they dont have ships to deploy those aircraft, do they?

tbh the other reasons you put forward do make sense.

 

[Ryder]

Another fun fact the Americans actually planned on selling the A10 Warthog to the Turkish airforce.

 

[Ryder]

 

[Ryder]

Turkey is the 2nd largest user of F16 , but why Turkey didn't own F15 and F18 fighters ?

Its all about requirements and money.

I do wish Turkish airforce got F15s. F15s are also bombers. If the Turkish airforce had F15s. F4 Phantoms would be retired if not supplemented until its full retirement.

 

[Sami1234]

Same for Egypt's F15 and UAE's F35, they put them under the Israel QME act

 

[Fairon]

F18 is not necesary when you have F16. It will strain the logistics and increase the maintenance costs for having an aircraft that has more or less same capacity as F16.(I am considering regular hornet.). Also you need to have different pilot pool to operate them.

F15 would have make sense but it is an expensive aircraft to buy and operate. TurAF decided to invest the money to MMU instead.

Original plan was operating F35 and MMU as hi/lo combination but well... . Actually even if we get the F35, the aircraft turned to be not too cheap to operate.(That is actual failure of the F35 program. It should be modern F16 costswise) So I am wondering how would that altered tha plan as well.

 

[Sami1234]

F18 is not necesary when you have F16. It will strain the logistics and increase the maintenance costs for having an aircraft that has more or less same capacity as F16.(I am considering regular hornet.). Also you need to have different pilot pool to operate them.

F15 would have make sense but it is an expensive aircraft to buy and operate. TurAF decided to invest the money to MMU instead.

Original plan was operating F35 and MMU as hi/lo combination but well... . Actually even if we get the F35, the aircraft turned to be not too cheap to operate.(That is actual failure of the F35 program. It should be modern F16 costswise) So I am wondering how would that altered tha plan as well.

And don't forget, you have people like Robert Menendez up there that can veto any arm sales to Turkey.

 

[Brokengineer]

Australian, Swiss, Kuwaiti, Finnish and Canadian air forces operate/operated F18s. they dont have ships to deploy those aircraft, do they?

tbh the other reasons you put forward do make sense.

Actually, the single reason merzifonlu explained, which does not make sense to you, is pretty damn valid one.
Just compare it export sales of f18 to f16 numbers makes enough of sense.
If you want a light attack air to ground, air to air fighter you Got f16
If you need a bomb truck that can carry those missions at the expense of higher pricing then you Got f15.
F18's comprimising both at high price for value.
It is meant to be a naval fighter not vice versa.

 

[Azbaroj]

Money. They also didn't want to sell the F15.

It doesn't make sense as they sold hundreds of F16s to Turkey and even produced/assembled them in your country. They were also ready to sell F35 .
IMO , Turkish Air force think F15 or F 18 don't make sense to buy them in terms of value for money. Some Arab countries like KSA , Qatar , UAE purchased them as money is not a problem for them .