Posted on 07/20/2019 9:08:34 PM PDT by NorseViking
Damn Straight !!
They assembled F-16s using supplied tooling and supplied parts.
Even Russians can’t build a 5th generation fighter. Their Su-57 is vaporware. They have zero production models.
Not gonna happen.....not as long as Merkel reigns.
That requires a great degree of expertise anyway.
Poland is still operating ex-Russian SAM systems and ex-Russian design aircraft and they’re in NATO. One of the better NATO partners, actually.
You may want to look at what the premier Turkish aerospace firm is doing before you say that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_Aerospace_Industries
They already have this proposed project with BAe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TAI_TF-X
I agree. I expect they were well trained and closely supervised by General Dynamics (now Lockheed). They surely learned a lot about aircraft manufacturing. However, I doubt they would have the ability to design and build an indigenous fighter aircraft.
Israel did it. India did it. Even Pakistan did it. Why can’t Turkey do it with its better industrial base and expertise?
India's first indigenous fighter jet (Tejas) took 30 years to develop. It is 4th generation and is not nearly as capable as the F-35.
The JF-17 Thunder was jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation of China. It is a 4th generation aircraft.
Turkey could try, but there is no way they could develop a 5th generation aircraft.
Hell, let Turkey get the S-400. Then we’ll get the radar and take it apart.
Thanks, Russia!!
Turkey has roughly three times the economy of Israel and industrialized. And I have no idea why 5th generation is a silver bullet. Build a Mig-21 or F-5 with more efficient powerplant and integrate with modern weaponry. That would make a potent combatant for most missions. Won’t cost $200 million each too.
NATO is a useless, redundant organization who’s time has run out.... what it was formed for and designed to protect against no longer exists.... europe is being overrun without a shot being fired in defence... we no longer have any interests to protect in europe.... disband nato and send out stuff and people home
Turkey is not our friend and should not be in NATO.
“Maybe letting Turkey get F35s would damage their capabilities more than sending them after more reliable Russian planes?”
It’s possible there’s a dumbass somewhere that thinks that.
People who know, do not.
Same for the Saudis. No muzz slimes can be trusted. Ever.
We don’t really know how the Israelis are using their F-35’s. During their initial baptism they were flying along the Syrian border with their radar reflectors mounted. That said, they did reportedly use them on at least one strike inside Syrian territory. There’s also a rumor that they’ve flown reconaissance over Iranian territory. They wouldn’t have done either unless they were stealthy.
Here's a link to an unclassified video which gives a description of the F-35 capabilities vs a 4th generation fighter.
Build a Mig-21 or F-5 with more efficient powerplant and integrate with modern weaponry.
Where is the "more efficient powerplant" coming from? I would expect the U.S. Government and NATO governments would restrict engine sales to Turkey. So, the engines would have to come from Russia or possibly China. Same thing for weapons and avionics. IMHO, Russian and Chinese weaponry are inferior to F-35's.
Development time, at a minimum, would be 10 years. Then EMD and LRIP would be 5 years. F-35s are being delivered now.
Bottom line...Turkey is giving up the F-35 for what?
It is politics above all. I think Turkey’s idea is it won’t be manipulated by either party and free to choose itself. In previous discussions I wrote the perception of the situation from inside Turkey.
Agree!
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