Turkey aims to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons, Germany seems not to agree
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| German Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon, |
Turkey is considering buying 40 second-hand Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft, National Defense Minister Yasar Guler said on Thursday.
"We want to buy Eurofighter. It is a very effective aircraft. These aircraft are related to the UK, Germany and Spain," he told parliament. "Both the UK and Spain say 'yes', and now they are working to persuade Germany. The UK and Spain say: 'We will solve that problem'. If solved, we plan to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets."
The sale of the Eurofighter to a non-partner country requires the approval of all members of the consortium, but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not appear to agree with the sale of the aircraft to Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to meet Scholz in Germany shortly.
The Minister further said that the Turkish Air Force's F-16 and F-4 fighters are sufficient to meet the nation's current needs, but that they must also look to the future.
"But of course, we are looking beyond. For this, we applied for the F-35, but some problems arose with the F-35. We are also working on alternatives," Guler said.
The United States expelled Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara decided to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense system which is believed to be lethal for the F-35.
Speaking about the purchase of F-16 fighters from the United States, Guler said: "To modernize our F-16s, we will purchase 40 ready-made F-16 Block 70 Vipers and modernize 79 of them at Turkish Aerospace Industry (TUSAS)."
However, the US Congress has yet to give formal approval for such an acquisition.
"We want to buy Eurofighter. It is a very effective aircraft. These aircraft are related to the UK, Germany and Spain," he told parliament. "Both the UK and Spain say 'yes', and now they are working to persuade Germany. The UK and Spain say: 'We will solve that problem'. If solved, we plan to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets."
The sale of the Eurofighter to a non-partner country requires the approval of all members of the consortium, but German Chancellor Olaf Scholz does not appear to agree with the sale of the aircraft to Ankara. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to meet Scholz in Germany shortly.
The Minister further said that the Turkish Air Force's F-16 and F-4 fighters are sufficient to meet the nation's current needs, but that they must also look to the future.
"But of course, we are looking beyond. For this, we applied for the F-35, but some problems arose with the F-35. We are also working on alternatives," Guler said.
The United States expelled Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara decided to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense system which is believed to be lethal for the F-35.
Speaking about the purchase of F-16 fighters from the United States, Guler said: "To modernize our F-16s, we will purchase 40 ready-made F-16 Block 70 Vipers and modernize 79 of them at Turkish Aerospace Industry (TUSAS)."
However, the US Congress has yet to give formal approval for such an acquisition.
Written by Matteo Sanzani
Image: Bundeswehr/Christian Timmig
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