orko_8T26 is being offered to Turkey for TF2000 program as a joint-development package, but due to extremely poor PR and marketing they don’t have a chance, I guess. If they use the same strategy and personnel in Brazil… well… not a slightest chance..
orko_8I am surprised by this line, they went for the F110-GE-129. P&W is probably pretty hot about not getting F100-PW-229 orders. I think F-15SK and F-15SG are the only others flying with this F110 engine in their F-15’s. UAE was probably hoping they’d go for GE F110-GE-132 to help their Block 60 engine parts price.
It’s no surprise since P&W has extremely poor reputation & record for both its engines (damage due to desert sand) and technical support in Saudi Arabia.
orko_8Agreed. There may be several explanations on the “MiG” goof here:
1. The article is written by a not-well-informed journalist who thinks all modern Russian-made fighter aircraft as Su-27 and MiG-29 (possible but don’t think so, see below, #3)
2. The mistakes were placed by purpose, to lower the credibility of the claim if a serious downplay comes by government (both military and civilian side, from Turkey and/or China)
3. Since Turkey operates a vast array of Russian made radar, EW and air defence equipment in Konya EW test range for Anatolian Eagle exercises, and since TurAF has a weapons and tactics squadron (132 Pence [Claw]) with all the fighter aircraft in Turkish inventory (F-16, F-4ETM, F-4E 2020), it would not be a surprise if TurAF wanted to obtain one or two MiG’s and/or Su’s, given that especially MiG-29 is prolific around Turkey, i.e Russia, Iran, Syria.
It is worth noting that in the original news story who was written by Lale Kemal, a defence journalist with very good contacts from Turkish military but a strong opponent and also Jane’s correspondent of Turkey, claimed that Turkey wanted to purchase MiG-29’s last year.
orko_8Turkey, China conduct joint air maneuvers
Turkish and Chinese militaries recently conducted a joint aerial exercise in central Anatolia, the first such exercise involving the air forces of NATO member Turkey and China.
The joint exercise was part of Turkeys Anatolian Eagle maneuvers, which have so far been carried out jointly with US, other NATO countries and Israel. They took place sometime this month in the central Anatolian province of Konya, where Anatolian Eagle maneuvers traditionally take place, Todays Zaman has learned. Turkish F-16s and Chinese SU-27s and Russian-made MIG-29s took part in the joint exercise, staging a mock dogfight in central Anatolian airspace. The exercise comes ahead of a planned visit by Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao to Turkey next month, which officials say will boost relations to a new level. The two sides are expected to sign several agreements on economic and cultural cooperation during the Chinese prime ministers visit.
Turkey has recently modified its security policy, removing neighbors from a list of countries considered as threats to national security.
http://www.todayszaman.com/tz-web/news-223058-turkey-china-conduct-joint-air-maneuvers.html
orko_8One spotter in Konya, Turkey has been claiming that he had seen two TurAF F-4E’s flying in formation with “two Su-like double seaters” over Konya for some time. The claim was serious because the spotter had well aviation knowledge and connections within the Konya 3rd Main Jet Base which is the home of Anatolian Eagle exercise range also one of TurAF’s biggest bases.
Today, it turned out that those “Su-like double seater” aircraft are from PLAAF!
According to the article of Turkish daily newspaper Zaman as well as a number of news portals, PLAAF Su-27’s and MiG-29’s [sic] made exercises with TurAF F-16’s in Konya, just before Chinese Prime Minister’s visit to Turkey in October. (http://www.zaman.com.tr/haber.do?haberno=1033937&title=cin-ilk-kez-anadolu-kartalinda)
Anyone heard anything of PLAAF Su-30MKK deployment overseas?
orko_8Date Posted: 15-Apr-2010
Jane’s Defence Industry
Greece faces EU court over Hellenic Shipyard aid
Guy Anderson Editor
The European Commission (EC) has referred Greece to the European Court of Justice, accusing Athens of failing to recover EUR230 million (USD313 million) of government aid given to Hellenic Shipyards, which the EC ruled was granted unlawfully.
The EC decided in July 2008 that the subsidies granted to Hellenic Shipyards were “incompatible with the common market”.
Explaining its decision to refer the case to the Court of Justice, the EC said in a 14 April statement: “The commission has been in discussions with the Greek authorities and Hellenic Shipyards since July 2008, concerning possible ways of implementing the decision, taking into account the company’s financial difficulties. “These efforts have been fruitless so far.”
It was argued by the EC that loans and guarantees provided by the Greek state and the then state-owned bank, ETVA, to Hellenic Shipyards “constituted incompatible aid as they were provided below market price or at a time when the financial situation of Hellenic Shipyards had become so difficult that it could not find bank financing”.
Hellenic Shipyards is expected to reimburse around EUR230 million plus interest, the EC said.
Jane’s reported in 2006 that the EC had extended a formal investigation into Greek support of Hellenic Shipyards, following allegations that Athens had not notified the commission of certain measures taken.
The case itself dates back to 2004, when the EC opened an investigation into amendments to an investment plan financed by investment aid to Hellenic Shipyards, as well as into a series of EVTA loans.
The EC endorsed restructuring aid of EUR160 million in 1997 and a EUR29.5 million package in 2002, although Greece was later suspected of failing to respect conditions attached to the packages.
It is notable that the demand for repayment applied to Hellenic’s civilian interests. Under EC rules, EU member states are permitted to protect their legitimate national security interests so long as these are not used as a pretext for granting state aid to adjacent civilian activities.
Hellenic Shipyards was state owned when the government aid package was put in place. The company – which has been operating for 50 years – was fully privatised in 2002 when it was taken over by a consortium of HDW and Ferrostaal AG. It subsequently came under the aegis of ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems when Thyssen Werften merged with HDW.
TKMS, for its part, is currently negotiating with Abu Dhabi MAR of the United Arab Emirates with a view to selling a majority stake in Hellenic Shipyards. It was unclear at the time of writing whether the EC’s latest move will have any impact on the sale: parties involved had not commented at the point of going to press.
orko_8It seems that the helicopter that crashed was not the original prototype (S/N CSX81723) after all, but rather a test platform borrowed from the italian army, though I don’t have a link in English right now.
The crashed helicopter was indeed the P1, a modified A-129CBT with new engines, AselFLIR-300T mock up and 20mm chain gun mockup, plus some test equipment. It was the sole helicopter used for tests until the completion of P2 late this year.
The Turkish state television TRT stated that the crashed helicopter was not a T129 but an A-129, which in fact, theoritecally true. I think this is the reason of the confusion.
orko_8Here you are:
orko_8You mean the LCM2000 project? AB2000 was the name of the first craft: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LCM2000
orko_8F-16 is a good airplane. Will Romaina ground all Lancers, or they will fly with F16s for some time ?
AFAIK they are going to reach their end of service lives in 2013.
orko_8Date Posted: 25-Mar-2010
Jane’s Navy International
UK embarks on Type 26 frigate programme
Tim Fish
Jon Rosamond
BAE Systems Surface Ships has secured a GBP127 million (USD189 million) contract from the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to develop a “highly versatile” replacement for the Royal Navy’s (RN’s) Type 22 and Type 23 frigates.
Under the four-year assessment phase contract, announced on 25 March, the company will work with the MoD to produce a detailed specification for the new Type 26 frigate.
Officials expect the so-called ‘combat ship’ – the larger of two Future Surface Combatant (FSC) designs for the RN – to pass the MoD’s main gate milestone towards the end of 2013, ready for production to start. The lead ship is scheduled to enter service in 2021.
The assessment phase is broken down into two parts: an 18-month assessment of options (AOO) followed by a detailed design period. Brian Johnson, the FSC project director at BAE Systems, told Jane’s that the AOO will determine the capabilities of the Type 26 frigate from a list of some 50 options including weapon, sensor and propulsion systems, and the size of the crew and embarked force.
An agreed concept design will go before the MoD’s Investment Approvals Board in the second half of 2010 for consideration – and possible amendment – as part of a wider UK Strategic Defence Review. In the first half of February 2011, the detailed design stage will mature the agreed concept design into a production-ready model ready for main gate.
According to a timetable set out by the FSC Team at the MoD’s Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S) organisation, steel for the first vessel will be cut in late 2015 or early 2016, a keel-laying ceremony will be held later in 2016, launch is scheduled for April 2018, and the likely in-service date will be towards the end of 2021.
The FSC C1 baseline design suggests a ship 141 m-long and displacing 6,850 tonnes. It will be equipped with a low-frequency active variable depth sonar and two launchers for the Futue Local Area Air Defence System (Maritime), firing the Common Anti-air Modular Missile.
Options include a vertical launch system for Tomahawk or Storm Shadow land-attack missiles, or alternatively a modified M270 guided multiple-launch rocket system. The Harpoon anti-ship missile system is also an option, while the main gun will be a 127 mm, 155 mm or refurbished 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mk 8 mount.
Aviation facilities include a flight deck capable of supporting a Chinook helicopter, a hangar for a Merlin-sized helicopter and a smaller hangar for unmanned aerial vehicles. Type 26 will become the lead platform for unmanned vehicles but will not be responsible for their development and procurement.
Below the flight deck, a mission bay and stern dock will hold four 9 m rigid-hull inflatable boats, the towed array sonar and a surface ship torpedo defence system. Alternative options for the mission bay will be examined as this feature is considered a design driver.
The frigate will have an all-electric propulsion system or a hybrid propulsion drive, giving a range of 7,000 n miles at 18 kt. Early concepts indicate a ship’s company of 150 personnel plus an embarked maritime force of 36.
Current assumptions call for the construction of up to 10 Type 26 ships, designed as a versatile combatant to protect expeditionary task forces and provide anti-submarine warfare defence.
The First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, said: “The Type 26 combat ship will form the future backbone of the Royal Navy’s surface combatant force, alongside the [six] new Type 45 destroyers. These ships will be highly versatile, able to operate across the full spectrum of operations, from war fighting to disaster relief.”
The Type 26 will replace the current Type 22 and Type 23 frigates over two decades, entering service at a yearly drumbeat from 2021. According to DE&S the first of the four Type 22s will retire in 2019 with the second the following year. The RN’s frigate fleet will be reduced from 17 ships to 15, returning to 16 in 2037 and to 17 a year later.
orko_8So, will it be based on the Daring hull?
According to Jane’s the C1 baseline design calls for ship of 141m in length and 6,850t displacement. Armament options include Futue Local Area Air Defence System (Maritime), Common Anti-air Modular Missile; Tomahawk or Storm Shadow cruise missiles, a modified M270 launch system, Harpoon anti-ship missiles; as for main gun 127 mm, 155 mm or refurbished 4.5 inch (114 mm) Mk 8. Capable of operating a Chinook, hangar for a Merlin + UAV.
3D images show a rather traditional design, doesnt seem to be based on Daring IMHO.
orko_8Anyone have the serial numbers of the first two Turkish F-4ETM Simsek (Lightning). I have a operational database which is available from http://www.thephantomshrine.co.uk and I am always looking for updates. If anyone can supply any further Turkish or for that matter any Phantom serials it would be greatly appreaciated. Thanks.
The first aircraft that was modernized under the Simsek project is “68-0403”, not sure about the second though.
orko_8Progress in Turkey’s Long-Delayed Frigate Program
By UMIT ENGINSOY And BURAK EGE BEKDIL
Published: 22 Mar 2010 16:49
ANKARA – Turkey has received responses to its January request for information from several foreign and domestic companies seeking to help build six anti-air frigates to a local design.
Turkey’s defense procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), obtained information on directed infrared countermeasures, electric generation and distribution systems, heating-ventilating-air conditioning, integrated platform management systems, laser directed/kinetic energy weapons, main propulsion systems and the naval gun system.
Officials declined to identify the companies that responded to the SSM’s request.
The program is dubbed the TF-2000, or Turkish Frigate for the 21st Century. Officials expect the program to cost Ankara about $3 billion in today’s prices; it will be completed in 10 to 12 years. The first ship is to enter service in 2018, one defense analyst said.
The program, originally planned in the late 1990s and shelved during the 2001 economic crisis, was resuscitated in 2006 by Turkey’s top procurement body, the Defense Industry Executive Committee. The program was trimmed to six frigates from the proposed eight.
Officials now say the program has solid financing available.
The Navy’s Turkish Naval Institute is working on the design, the country’s first homegrown plan for a frigate. The program aims to bolster the Navy’s air defense and operational capabilities using mostly domestic assets.
Turkey’s Tuzla military shipyard in the country’s northwest will build the six vessels, which will be equipped with state-of-the-art anti-missile and anti-aircraft air defense missile systems as well as other weapons.
Heavy foreign involvement and a large amount of technology transfer is expected in the program.
Naval warfare helicopters and UAVs also are planned to be deployed on the TF-2000s, which will displace more than 6,000 tons.
The Turkish Navy now operates 19 frigates, including U.S. Oliver Hazard Perry- and Knox-class and German Meko-class warships. Some of the older Knox-class frigates will be retired soon.
Turkey – expected to spend slightly more than $4 billion for defense procurement in 2010 – in recent years has focused on Navy programs, particularly their local design and development wherever possible.
Other top Navy projects include joint manufacture with Germany of six modern submarines and mostly local development and production of up to 12 corvettes.
The first ship in the Milgem-type corvette program, the TCG Heybeliada, was put to sea in late 2008 and is planned to be commissioned in 2011. Milgem, as a national naval development program, is seen as a precursor of the TF-2000.
orko_8According to reports, the helicopter lost tail rotor at 15,000ft! 😮
If true, than the incident might be a testimony to the survivability characteristics of the helicopter.
According to the roadmap, final assembly on the P2 and P3 prototypes was to be started this month, while the first TAI produced prototype, the P4 is going to be completed in 2011.
Tests for 20mm gun was to be completed this October with P1. I suppose, this accident might increase the workload of P2 & P3, and maybe giving some more time to local Turkish companies to ready their avionics and weapon systems.
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