Red beret
14 oktober 2004, 23:42
Here is the lastest about the Eurofighter bid in Turkey, also mentions the JSF and maybe some attritional replacements for the F-16 fleet. Article from defense news.
The Eurofighter consortium has launched a marketing push in Turkey to sell scores of aircraft to fill the Turkish Air Force’s expected gap in fighter jets until deliveries of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) begin around 2015, procurement officials and industry sources said.
Rome-based Alenia Aeronautica, the Eurofighter partner that manages the development and production of the Typhoon fighter jet, on Sept. 14 opens its office in Turkey for the purpose of “seeking Turkish partnership in aeronautics and space programs,” a company statement said.
But a company official said one of the primary tasks will be pushing Turkish involvement in the Eurofighter Typhoon program. “Turkey may join the program and benefit from exclusivities such as design rights, source codes and cheaper price [than if Turkey was not a partner and bought the plan off the shelf],” an Alenia official in Ankara said. The current market price for an off-the-shelf Typhoon would be around $35 million.
Other Eurofighter industry partners are BAE SYSTEMS, London, and EADS, Amsterdam. Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, the four main partner nations, are expected to order 620 aircraft, while Austria will purchase 18 and Greece 60. Britain and Italy plan to buy both the JSF and the Typhoon.
“Eurofighter is no substitute for the JSF,” the Alenia official said. “It is, rather, complementary, and we think it fits into Turkey’s requirement for new fighter aircraft.”
Alenia recently gave an introductory session on the Typhoon with Turkey’s procurement authorities and Air Force officers.
A procurement official familiar with the fighter programs said although the Air Force remains committed to the U.S.-led JSF, it may consider buying some Eurofighters to increase air superiority.
An Air Force officer said Turkey’s top choice was the JSF, but he left the door open for what he sees as a “supportive option.”
“We would consider the Eurofighter buy if we come to the conclusion that our operational requirements made it feasible,” he said Sept. 8.
Turkey’s fighter fleet includes more than 200 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft. Ankara in July 2002 announced its intention to buy the JSF to replace the aging F-16s over time, agreeing to pay $175 million for partnership in the JSF’s ongoing System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics will lead the work to build more than 3,000 supersonic JSFs. The SDD phase, launched in October 2001, so far involves eight U.S. allies plus the United States.
While Eurofighter deliveries to the partner nations have started, the F-35’s mass production is planned after 2012. Ankara said it would purchase nearly 100 F-35s, but deliveries to the Turkish Air Force might begin around 2015.
“Britain and Italy are planning to buy both the Eurofighter and the JSF, so it won’t be a surprise if Turkey joins them,” said one U.S. industry source. “But should Turkey move to buy scores of Eurofighters, this would lead to a drop in the number of JSF aircraft it would acquire.”
The consideration comes at a time when Turkey is seeking full European Union membership and is complaining about what it calls a lack of local work share and limited technology transfer in defense deals with the United States.
EU leaders are scheduled to decide in December if Turkey should be given a date for the start of formal accession talks.
“If Turkey opts for the Eurofighter, there will be [positive] political repercussions, and such a move will bring Turkey closer to the EU,” the Alenia official said.
Ik dacht dat Turkije de mensen rechten niet respecteerde.Of zijn die miljoenen euro's belangrijker dan die mensen rechten.Himmmm:? stof tot nadenken.
The Eurofighter consortium has launched a marketing push in Turkey to sell scores of aircraft to fill the Turkish Air Force’s expected gap in fighter jets until deliveries of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) begin around 2015, procurement officials and industry sources said.
Rome-based Alenia Aeronautica, the Eurofighter partner that manages the development and production of the Typhoon fighter jet, on Sept. 14 opens its office in Turkey for the purpose of “seeking Turkish partnership in aeronautics and space programs,” a company statement said.
But a company official said one of the primary tasks will be pushing Turkish involvement in the Eurofighter Typhoon program. “Turkey may join the program and benefit from exclusivities such as design rights, source codes and cheaper price [than if Turkey was not a partner and bought the plan off the shelf],” an Alenia official in Ankara said. The current market price for an off-the-shelf Typhoon would be around $35 million.
Other Eurofighter industry partners are BAE SYSTEMS, London, and EADS, Amsterdam. Britain, Germany, Italy and Spain, the four main partner nations, are expected to order 620 aircraft, while Austria will purchase 18 and Greece 60. Britain and Italy plan to buy both the JSF and the Typhoon.
“Eurofighter is no substitute for the JSF,” the Alenia official said. “It is, rather, complementary, and we think it fits into Turkey’s requirement for new fighter aircraft.”
Alenia recently gave an introductory session on the Typhoon with Turkey’s procurement authorities and Air Force officers.
A procurement official familiar with the fighter programs said although the Air Force remains committed to the U.S.-led JSF, it may consider buying some Eurofighters to increase air superiority.
An Air Force officer said Turkey’s top choice was the JSF, but he left the door open for what he sees as a “supportive option.”
“We would consider the Eurofighter buy if we come to the conclusion that our operational requirements made it feasible,” he said Sept. 8.
Turkey’s fighter fleet includes more than 200 Lockheed Martin F-16 aircraft. Ankara in July 2002 announced its intention to buy the JSF to replace the aging F-16s over time, agreeing to pay $175 million for partnership in the JSF’s ongoing System Development and Demonstration (SDD) phase.
Lockheed Martin Aeronautics will lead the work to build more than 3,000 supersonic JSFs. The SDD phase, launched in October 2001, so far involves eight U.S. allies plus the United States.
While Eurofighter deliveries to the partner nations have started, the F-35’s mass production is planned after 2012. Ankara said it would purchase nearly 100 F-35s, but deliveries to the Turkish Air Force might begin around 2015.
“Britain and Italy are planning to buy both the Eurofighter and the JSF, so it won’t be a surprise if Turkey joins them,” said one U.S. industry source. “But should Turkey move to buy scores of Eurofighters, this would lead to a drop in the number of JSF aircraft it would acquire.”
The consideration comes at a time when Turkey is seeking full European Union membership and is complaining about what it calls a lack of local work share and limited technology transfer in defense deals with the United States.
EU leaders are scheduled to decide in December if Turkey should be given a date for the start of formal accession talks.
“If Turkey opts for the Eurofighter, there will be [positive] political repercussions, and such a move will bring Turkey closer to the EU,” the Alenia official said.
Ik dacht dat Turkije de mensen rechten niet respecteerde.Of zijn die miljoenen euro's belangrijker dan die mensen rechten.Himmmm:? stof tot nadenken.