Posted on 01/21/2018 7:03:27 AM PST by Texas Fossil
It has become certain that the fellowship of weapons will be the most important step in the easing of tension between the Merkel and Erdoğan governments. The German government reportedly wants to approve the plan to modernize the Turkish army’s tanks.
At a time when the forces allied to the Erdoğan regime come to the fore with plans to invade and attack Afrin and other areas in Western Kurdistan, Germany is preparing to take on the task of modernizing the Turkish army.
It has come to light that the dirty negotiations over the German citizens held hostage by the Erdoğan regime which was admitted and then rescinded by German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel have carried on over weapons trade.
Weekly news journal Der Spiegel’s latest issue includes an article that says the federal German government wants to greenlight the plan to modernize Turkish army’s Leopard type tanks by Rheinmetall, one of the most prominent defense companies in the country.
The plan emerged in the meeting Gabriel held with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu in early January, and defense units of the two governments are to convene over the matter as soon as possible.
TANKS WILL BE PROTECTED AGAINST LANDMINES
The Turkish army wants to fortify the defense of the Leopard type tanks they previously purchased from Germany against bombed traps and landmines. In the invasion of Syria launched by the Turkish army in the summer of 2016, some 10 tanks had been damaged due to their weak defenses.
Turkey had appealed to Germany to modernize the tanks last March. But the bid Rheinmetall wanted to take on was shelved due to high tensions with the Erdoğan regime. There are reports that say shortly before Çavuşoğlu visited Germany, Rheinmetall administrators met with Gabriel and reiterated their insistence to take on the job of modernizing the tanks.
NEXT: PROJECT TO MANUFACTURE 1000 TANKS
Rheinmetall and Turkey’s Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK) had signed various deals regarding ammunition manufacturing and modernization in the past. The project included the modernization of the Leopard type tanks as well as the manufacturing of ammunition for Turkish fighter jets in Turkey.
The bid for the first 100 to 200 tank phase in Erdoğan regime’s 7 billion Euro tank project Altay had gone to Rheinmetall and Turkish truck and bus manufacturer BMC. The two firms founded a company called RBSS in Ankara, and Rheinmetall holds 40% of the shares of this RBSS company.
The federal German government has to make a decision on the first order of 1000 panzer-type tanks this year. Rheinmetall CEO Armin Papperger had previously stated that many projects for the Turkish army are on hold. In 2015, Papperger had decided to manufacture the tanks for the Turkish army in Turkey and had visited Erdoğan in his palace to that end.
Erdogan calls German leaders "Nazi's", and they consider building a thousand tanks for Turkey (built inside Turkey)? After they invade peaceful Efrin, Syria? Nuts.
Turkey flirts with renewed genocide attacks and Germany wants build them 1,000 tanks (not built in Germany, exposes Erdogan's motives)?
Anti-tank missiles are so plentiful and effective, tanks will be less and less effective in the theater. They are really just thug vehicles against soft populations.
The US doesn’t have a monopoly on the concept of the Military Industrial Complex.
At least Turkey has its tanks pointed in the right direction...can’t say the same for the rest of Europe.
Glad Germany is destroying themselves....very glad. A dead Germany is better for the world.
New Leopards for Turkey. More “refugees” for Germany. *SMH*
The German government reportedly wants to approve the plan to modernize the Turkish army’s tanks.
Thanks Texas Fossil.
What role does Turkey currently play in NATO defense planning? Only useful thing I can think of is forcing Russia to consider the remote possibility of Turkey coming in on the NATO side of a Russian war against Europe. They might if Russia was already losing badly, otherwise good luck with that. But upgrading the Leopards would give the Russian’s some minimal cause for concern, and tie down forces. Current Turkish dictator is more likely to cause mischief in the ME with any increased capacities than do anything helpful.
Most of the photos/videos I saw during the Turkish incursion in to Syria were old US made, M-60. Refurbished. But still dated.
Looks like that website is a Kurdish propaganda platform. Just for perspective.
What an excellent question. I'm sure it's being asked at NATO capitals all over.
The only opinion that matters, however, is Trump's. Turkey has always been a threat to Russia's southern flank and especially a threat to block Russia's access to the Med. It has served as a NATO (actually US) missile and air base. It's days as a reliable ally, howerver, are over.
The question now: is Turkey really an ally? I think the answer is no. Next question: can we really give it up to the Russians? My answer: why not? Let the Russians choke on it.
Yes Germany is going to “modernize” the tanks Erdogan style. The heinies will paint swastikas 卐 on them.
smile, snicker
Thank you sir.
I know them. Yes there is propaganda there. But it is not nearly as bad as US media in perspective and day and night better than any news coming from Turkey.
The site is written from perspective of YPG and YPJ. There are others, but the best articles on this site are superb.
Aimed at Syrian Kurds? I don’t agree.
Aimed at Islamist Fascist Jihadi’s, I agree.
I know the difference.
Agree.
For Turkey to remain in NATO, Erdogan the Islamist must go. Preferably by Turks removing him.
I have 2 recent articles about that subject that I have considered posting, but am reluctant to make what is already happening worse. Am still weighing if it would help or harm.
I cannot recognize tank varieties by appearance. Was never connected with them. The guys who drive them can recite the specs from memory. Training I guess.
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