Civilian and military officials here say that Turkey will either, buy both Eurofighter and JSf or one of them. Rumors are that chance of a purchase of Eurofighter is decreasing.

On the other hand TuAF urgently need some fighters because it has lost 25 F-16’s out of 240 since 1987, and two interception squadrons (112 and 172) made up of F-4E’s are almost scrap by now (FY 67/68/69 airframes). So, either for attrition replacement or replacement of F-4E’s, TuAF needs new aircrafts.

Turkish Air Force got delivery of 40 F-102A and 9 TF-102A between 1968-1970, 16 of which were lost in accidents. Delta Aggers were used until the wfu of the last 13 on June 5, 1979. The US embargo between 1975-1978 after Cyprus intervention in 1974 hit F-102 squadrons hard and because of lack of spare parts, most aircraft were either grounded or cannibalized, as no alternative source for spare parts could be found (unlike F-104 or F-5’s).

As for the combat record in 1974 issue, Phantom II is right. There are two different claims, but after 32 years, it is highly unlikely that official documents and evidences will be revealed.

A note: F-102 was never liked (read “it was hated”) by most TuAF personnel.

“Pakistan to get F-16 from USA and JF-17 from China”

or “Pakistan to get JF-17 from China and F-16 fighters” could be ok.

By the way what difference makes an F-16 a warplane and JF-17 an aircraft? 😀

OWAX? 😀

Ignorance of journalists in defense matters is universal I see..

Turkish Air Force currently operates 215 F-16C/D Block30/40/50 (25 have been lost since 1987) and 52 F-4E 2020 Terminator (2 lost). There is urgent need for attrition replacement and replacement of the 2 F-4E air defense squadrons which did not receive modernization. There had been rumors that 48 F-4E’s were to be modernized locally, but this project is reportedly cancelled and the work will be done as limited structural life-extension. It is not clear whether those F-16’s will be bought as attrition replacement or to replace F-4E squadrons. I think there is a possibility that Block-52+ news may be false, since this type uses PW engine: TuAF F-16’s fly with GE engines. After all upcoming months will clarify those fogs, I think.

New Armament Programme

(Source: Athens News Agency; issued July 25, 2006) (Additional reporting by defense-aerospace))

The Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) convened Tuesday, chaired by Greek PM Kostas Karamanlis, and approved the new armament programme for 2006-2010, amounting to 11.39 billion euros.

As per the address by National Defence Minister Evangelos Meimarakis, 8.43 billion euros will go to pay for equipment ordered by the previous government, while spending on new armaments for the next five years will amount to 2.9 billion euros, 26% of which will be given for the upgrade or completion of existing equipment programmes.

Sources close to the Ministry of Defence say the new equipment approved for purchase includes 20 transport helicopters (likely to be NH-90s), six frigates (French-Italian FREMM design), 5 maritime patrol aircraft and 400 armored troop transport vehicles.

The purchase of fourth generation military aircraft is postponed until the next armament programme, which will cover the 2011-2015 period with a funding envelope that should increase to about 15 billion euros.

In statements after the end of the meeting, Meimarakis said that the Government is consistent to its pre-election commitments, and trying to rationalise defence expenditures without decreasing the pre-emptive and defence power of the country.

Greece Alters Its Defense Spending Priorities, Plans
DID has covered Greece’s about face on half of its future fighter order, switching from a EUR 4.9 billion contract (about $5.8 billion) for 60 EADS Eurofighters to a roughly $2 billion contract for 30 F-16C/D Block 50/52s. Even so, defense ministry spokesman Stefanos Gikas has said that their “…next order [in 2009] for fourth-generation jets will be reviewed by another military council meeting. It does not exclude any company from Europe or the U.S.” Possible contenders like Dassault (Rafale), EADS (Eurofighter), Lockheed (F-35 Lightning II), and Saab/BAE (JAS-39 Gripen) had all been looking forward to that next phase, some more than others.

They may have to wait a bit longer now, because Greece’s plans have changed. With orders for new F-16s and Leopard tanks in hand, their Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) is has approved a EUR 11.39 billion procurement program for 2006-2010… and new fighters aren’t on the list.

Defense-Aerospace.com reports that the new equipment approved for purchase includes:

* 20 transport helicopters (likely to be NH90s),
* 6 frigates (rumored to be the French-Italian FREMM design)
* 5 maritime patrol aircraft
* 400 armored troop transport vehicles

Reports indicate that these orders will consume EUR 2.9 billion, while EUR 8.43 billion euros will go to pay for equipment ordered by the previous government. That doesn’t quite add, with notional FREMM frigate prices hovering in the $300-400 million per ship range and 20 NH90s likely to cost about EUR 1 billion, thus breaking the declared procurement budget all by themselves.

What is clear is that the next-tranche purchase of fourth generation fighter jets is postponed until the 2011-2015 armament program, which projects a funding increase to about EUR 15 billion. DID should note that planning forecasts of future defense budget increases from future political administrations rarely arrive anywhere; they are usually either wishful military thinking, or a politician’s trick. An aging population and correspondingly rising social welfare concerns makes such increases especially unlikely to arrive in European countries.

Turkey would begin receiving F-35A Lightnings as of about 2015 if it remains in the program, which will add some pressure to the Greek political equation after that date. Note, however, that this makes it easy for a future administration to put off the next-tranche fighter purchase again in the 2011-2015 plan.

Time will sort all of these purchases out, both near-term and over the longer term.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2006/07/greece-alters-its-defense-spending-priorities-plans/index.php

F-16 Shoots Down Greece’s $6B Eurofighter Typhoon Order
After scrapping a EUR 4.9 billion deal with EADS for 60 Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, Greece’s center-right government announced that it has decided to buy 30 Lockheed Martin F-16 C/D jets from the U.S. instead, with an option for 10 more. The order for the aircraft and accompanying equipment and weapons would cost up to $3.1 billion if all options are exercised, and is designed to address the nation’s air defense needs over the next 15 years. The jets would join 50 F-16C/D Block 50/52 aircraft already in service with the Hellenic Air Force (EPA, or Elliniki Polemiki Aeroporia in Greek) under a 2000 contract. The new contract’s exact figures will depend on negotiations, and will include industrial offset benefits and support for the rest of the F-16s Block 52s and earlier models belonging to the EPA.

The deal is another blow to the Eurofighter’s export campaign. The Typhoon was recently bounced from Singapore’s future fighter competition in favour of Dassault’s Rafale or Boeing’s F-15E Strike Eagle. Greece’s traditional rival Turkey had also expressed some interest in the Eurofighter earlier this year, before signing a $1.1 billion contract in May to upgrade its own F-16 fleet to a Block 50+ equivalent instead. Nevertheless, the Greek market is not completely closed to EADS.

http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/2005/07/f16-shoots-down-greeces-6b-eurofighter-typhoon-order/index.php

Germany pays €170m advance on submarines for Israel

The payment will be transferred to HDW shipyards in Baltic port of Kiel in a few days.

Amnon Barzilai 18 Jul 06 19:23

The German government will pay a €170 million advance payment to begin construction of two Dolphin II class submarines for the Israel Navy. The payment will be transferred to Howaldtswerke Deutsche Werft AG (HDW) shipyards in the Baltic port of Kiel in a few days.

When the advance is paid, the agreement between the Israeli and German governments for construction of the two submarines for €2 billion will come into effect. Under the agreement, Germany will finance one-third of the deal, and Israel will pay the rest over a ten-year period. This means that half the amount will be paid to Germany long after the submarines enter service. The first submarine will be delivered in six years, and the second a year later.

The two Dolphin II class submarines are improved versions of the three Dolphin I class submarines, which are already in service with the Israel Navy. The Dolphin II is ten meters longer and 500 tons heavier than the Dolphin I, and will displace 2,000 tons. The changes are designed to extend consider the length of time the Dolphin II can stay underwater.

The Dolphin II’s armament will include long-range missiles. Reports in the foreign press, which have not been confirmed by Israel, claim that the Israel Navy’s submarines are part of Israel’s strategic array, and, if necessary, can deliver a pre-emptive strike in the event of a threatened nuclear attack on Israel.

In the late 1990s, the Israel Navy put in service three Dolphin I submarines, which HDW built over the preceding decade. However, the Navy concluded that, on the basis of threat scenarios and outlines of a future war, it needed two more submarines. The decision was based on the working assumption that at least one submarine would always be undergoing maintenance and repair, while the others would defend the country’s seaboard from Syria in the north to Egypt in the south.

Three years ago, the Ministry of Defense entered into negotiations with Germany’s Ministry of Defense to examine the possibility of building two more submarines. The main clauses in the agreement were completed a few months ago. The two countries agreed, among other things, that all the submarines’ combat and combat support systems considered force multipliers would be built by Israeli defense contractors. The cost of the Israeli-built systems will amount to 15-20% of the submarines’ total cost.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news – http://www.globes.co.il – on July 18, 2006

http://www.globes.co.il/serveen/globes/DocView.asp?did=1000114080&fid=1725

There were Il-28 Beagle light bombers in 1960’s, which were used as dummy targets in 1990’s.

An interesting article about the decline of Iraqi Air Force: http://www.airpictorial.com/iraqsVanishingAirForce.html