Turkey’s Air Force in Crisis? Report Raises Concerns for Erdogan

Asianet News English

A recent report from a prominent Erdogan-linked think tank raises serious concerns about the vulnerability of Turkey’s Air Force amid escalating regional tensions with Greece and Israel. The study warns that aging fighter jets, delayed indigenous fighter projects, and reductions in experienced personnel have put Turkey’s air defense capabilities at risk. With Greece upgrading its fleet with Rafale jets and Israel operating advanced F-35s, Turkey faces a critical need for modernization and strategic procurement.&nbsp;<br>&nbsp;

Transcript

00:00Turkey's Air Force is facing challenges amid growing regional tensions with Greece and Israel,

00:16two countries backed by advanced Western military technology and alliances.

00:21A recent report from a government-linked think tank, the SETA Foundation,

00:26warns that Turkey risks military vulnerability if urgent modernization efforts are not accelerated.

00:35The SETA report highlights that Turkey's air power mainly relies on aging F-16 fighter jets,

00:42many dating back to the 1980s and early 1990s.

00:47These aircraft are reaching the end of their operational life,

00:50making Turkey vulnerable against regional rivals who have equipped themselves with 5th-generation stealth fighters

00:58like Israel's F-35s and Greece's new Rafale fighter jets.

01:04The think tank emphasizes the need for Turkey not only to replenish its fighter fleet

01:10but also to strengthen air defense and space-based capabilities

01:14to face simultaneous threats from Israel and Greece.

01:19Turkey's ambitions to develop a domestic 5th-generation Kahn fighter jet

01:24have faced delays and technical challenges,

01:27especially issues related to engine development,

01:30which could postpone its deployment well into the 2030s.

01:35This leaves Turkey dependent on older 4th-generation fighter jets and military drones in the short term.

01:43Compounding Turkey's Air Force challenges are past decisions that have affected its readiness.

01:49After the purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems,

01:52Turkey was expelled from the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program,

01:57removing access to cutting-edge technology and international cooperation.

02:02Additionally, purges in the military following the 2016 coup attempt

02:07severely reduced the number of experienced pilots,

02:11further weakening operational capabilities.

02:13Despite these challenges, Turkey has been investing heavily in indigenous defense programs,

02:19including unmanned aerial vehicles like the Bayraktar drones,

02:24as well as new air defense missile systems such as Hissar and Saipur.

02:29Ankara aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers

02:32and bolster self-sufficiency in defense production.

02:36The Turkish government is also seeking the acquisition of new F-16 Block 70 aircraft from the US,

02:43pending approval from the US Congress, which remains uncertain.

02:48Rejoining the F-35 program is also a long-term aspiration for Turkey,

02:53but remains complicated by geopolitical and diplomatic issues.

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