Does anybody have information on Turkey’s future requirements for Aviation Capable ships i.e. Landing ship with dock (LSDH) or other types.

Turkey currently has an LPD project which is on RfI stage.

The project covers the production of an LPD which is capable of carrying a battalion sized unit along with 4 LCM’s, 2 LCVP’s, 1 commander vehicle, 1 RHIB and 27 AAV’s.

The ship is expected to be ~15,000t class and Fincantieri design is the most favorite candidate. Schelde (Enforcer) will not participate in the project according tro their official whom I talked to at DSA2008.

Turkish naval aviation currently has:

2 x AB-212A
9 x AB-212N (out of 12; 3 x w/o)
3 x AB-212E

7 x S-70B-28 SeaHawk (out of 8; 1 x w/o. Plus 17 on order, deliveries to start next year [?])

6 x CN-235MPA (mission systems are being fitted out)

10 x ATR-72MPA (on order)

There is currently a project for the procurement of utility helicopters including 6 helicopters for the LPD. The decision is expected to be made this year (most probably late July or August). Sikorsky with S-70 is the favorite candidate against Agusta Westland with AW-139.

The 8 AH-1W Super Cobra’s (out of 10; 2 x w/o during operations against PKK) of Army Aviation which were originally built for USMC but bought by Turkey for urgent requirement against PKK in mid 90’s, maybe, I underline “maybe”, will be transferred to Amphibious Brigade after some upgrade when T-129 gains operational status after ~2012. This is just a “what if” for the moment, given thought of in the context of the vast modernization process of the Amphibious Brigade.

Once upon a time in mid 90’s, feasibility of a possible procurement of alight aircraft carrier (like Invincible or Principe de Asturias) was analyzed and shelved (forever).

Again, once upon a time, procurement of 20 x F-35B JSF S/TOVL aircraft along with 100 F-35A’s was thought, but shelved (forever) as well.

RAF Eurofighter damaged in US landing incident
By Craig Hoyle

A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon has been damaged in an incident while landing at the US Navy’s China Lake weapons test range in California, the UK service has confirmed.

Believed to be assigned to the RAF’s Coningsby-based 17 Sqn Operational Evaluation Unit, the aircraft “sustained damage on landing,” the RAF says. The pilot did not eject from the aircraft, which came to rest on the runway, and was not injured in the mishap.

“The damage is still being assessed,” says an RAF source, who adds that a Board of Inquiry has already been established to investigate the cause of the accident. The service’s remaining fleet of almost 50 Typhoons – including aircraft providing permanent quick reaction alert duties for the southern UK from Coningsby – has not been grounded, and “there is no suggestion of airworthiness being compromised,” the source adds.

This is the second landing incident to have affected the RAF’s Typhoon force, with a two-seat aircraft operated by its 29 Sqn Operational Conversion Unit having sustained damage in early 2006 after its nose wheel failed to deploy.
http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2008/04/28/223336/raf-eurofighter-damaged-in-us-landing-incident.html

4? AFAIK Shardul class consists of 3 ships.:confused:

6 x LGB, 2 x IR AAM on wingtips, Litening pod underneath the chin, even CFT’s on a good ol’ Su-22!!! eek!! Too much “what-if” packed, even for April 1st 😉

Lol!I dont know scooter…;)
Meanwhile some news..
Singapore and Indian navies conduct joint missile exercise

dpa

SINGAPORE — India and Singapore’s navies conducted a 14-day exercise using combined surface-to-air missile live firing for the first time, Singapore’s

defense ministry said Saturday.

Held in the Bay of Bengal from March 17 to March 29, the event has been held annually since 1994 and started with anti-submarine warfare exercises.

The Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) “has grown in scope and complexity, evolving to advanced naval water exercises covering the air, surface and sub-surface dimensions,” a statement said.

The Singapore navy sent a frigate, two missile corvettes and a landing ship tank. The Indian navy deployed a destroyer, a frigate, two corvettes, two missile boats, two fast-attack craft and one offshore patrol vessel, together with a submarine.

Both navies also deployed maritime patrol aircraft.

In addition to SIMBEX, the statement said both navies have regular interactions including exchange programs and courses.

Ermm Do we know the participating ships’ names?

Unmodernized F-4Es to the F-35? I don’t care whose generational yardstick you’re using, that’s quite a jump.

Logan Hartke

TuAF currently has:

211 F-16C/D BLock 30/40/50 (Block 40/50’s to 50+ standard, Bock 30’s limited mod under CCIP)

+ 30 F-16C/D Block 50+

52 F-4E 2020 (modernized under Terminator project, to remain in service until 2020’s)

around 40 serviceable F-4E’s (112 and 172’s sq; very very low serviceability)

18 RF-4E’s (mod. under Isik project).

43 N/F-5A/B 2000 (used for LIFT)

So by looking this force structure, it is easy to see what would be the first candidate for replacement when F-35 arrives…

In fact, official plans are for 116 aircraft. Most probably the news report mistakenly stated 100, since the latter number had been speculated for some time.