Post by Admin on Sept 4, 2019 6:06:13 GMT
Russia Offers Support For Turkish TF-X Lightweight Stealth Fighter Program
Turkey has shown considerable interest in Russia’s two foremost next generation fighter designs, the Su-57 and Su-35, and the potential for joint manufacturing of both aircraft are reportedly currently under discussion with a larger order of at least one of the platforms expected. At the opening of the MAKS 2019 airshow, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan showed particular interest in the Su-57 design, and a contract is expected to be finalised in the coming months. Alongside foreign acquisitions however, Turkey is also planning the induction of a lightweight stealth fighter which it seeks to develop indigenously under the TF-X program. With many of the next generation technologies needed to successfully develop such a jet well beyond the current limitations of Turkey’s defence sector, from long range air to air missiles to modern engines, foreign assistance was long expected to play a major role in the program.
Russia has offered to provide Turkey with assistance in developing the TF-X, with head of Russia’s Federal Service of Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev stating on August 28th: “They (Turkey) have a TF-X project; we are ready to discuss this in terms of industrial cooperation. Moreover, the two leaders (Presidents Putin and Erdogan) stressed yesterday that industrial cooperation between the two countries was possible and desirable. Our industry is ready, in principle.” He further alluded to potential cooperation in developing engines and electronic warfare systems specifically. Russian technologies could potentially seriously accelerate the Turkish fighter program and allow the country to begin to retire its ageing fleet of F-4 Phantoms and F-16 Fighting Falcons - the first of which dates back tot he Vietnam War era and the latter which is considered increasingly obsolete with many states looking to retire them.