'F-35 warplane facing turbulence at home and abroad'- What will Turkey do?

[Esc8781]

I am not saying the f35 is bad, but what did you expect him to say....

Nah I'm not accusing ya . Also I forgot Jon Bessley was also the operations officer (1981-1986) for the F-117 stealth fighter. Guy has a lot of experience with stealth fighters.

 

[T-123456]

What shall turkey do?


F-35 warplane facing turbulence at home and abroad



Manufacturer Lockheed Martin was hoping allies, including Canada, would line up to buy more than 1,000 additional F-35s to give their air forces deep-strike capacity in heavily defended airspace – think China – and the ability to drop laser-guided bombs capable of destroying deeply buried targets.

But foreign buyers are getting cold feet.

Monstrously expensive and crippled by delays, the F-35 now looks less like the answer to a wide array of air force renewal prayers than an albatross. There are fears it would drag defence budgets into a mire of ‘too much money for too few planes’ that are designed to fight a war that seems increasingly unlikely.

Every cancellation drives the unit cost of the remaining F-35s – although billed at roughly $161-million each – higher and higher.

Australia

Initial plans to buy up to 100 F-35s were scaled back after the urgent need to replace the Australian Air Force’s obsolete bombers became clear. So 24 updated F-18s were purchased. The newest-model F-18s are considered by many as a proven, far-less-expensive alternative to the F-35, although Canberra remains officially committed to the fighter. So far only 14 have been ordered and the decision on another 24 has been pushed back until 2015.

Britain

After first announcing it wanted 138 of the most-complicated F-35 variant, one that can land vertically like a helicopter and is the U.S. Marines’ version, Britain changed its order to the U.S. Navy aircraft-carrier version that was supposed to be 25-per-cent cheaper. Now with costs escalating on that model, too, the government may switch back – even though British test pilots are already flying a pre-production model in Texas. Many analysts expect the total number to be cut by 30 per cent or more. The government said it won’t decide until 2015. Firm orders to date: three; one is flying.

Denmark

Although a member of the F-35 consortium, Denmark has made no purchase commitment. Instead, decision has been pushed back and Copenhagen is now expected to upgrade a couple of dozen of its aging F-16.

Israel

In 2010, Israel ordered 20 F-35s from Lockheed Martin at a cost of $2.8-billion but isn’t expecting deliveries until 2017. Eventually it plans to buy 75 of the fifth-generation warplane to maintain its clear air warfare superiority in the Middle East, Because of F-35 delays, Israel’s powerful air force is looking at an interim buy of refurbished F-15s from Boeing.

Italy

Cash-strapped Italy, which originally announced that it wanted 131 F-35s – but didn’t sign a contract – has already slashed the planned purchase to 90 of the fighter-bombers. That too is expected to be cut way back. The navy needs 22 warplanes for its new, medium-sized aircraft carrier but that may become the total purchase.

Japan

After announcing only last December that it would buy 42 F-35s, with the first four delivered in 2017, Japan’s Defence Minister Naoki Tanaka publicly warned earlier this year that delays or price increases would imperil the entire contract. “We would need to consider as a potential option matters like cancelling our orders and starting a new selection process if that is the case,” he said. Losing Japan, with more than 300 warplanes, many of them needing replacement, would be a major blow, as the order for 42 F-35s was widely seen as an initial tranche of a 100-plus aircraft program.

Netherlands

The first Dutch F-35 was completed last summer but the planned purchase of 85 aircraft remains in jeopardy. A Dutch government study questions the cost estimates and some defence analysts suggest only 40 aircraft will be purchased. Decisions have been pushed back to 2015.

Norway

Even as it delayed until 2024 final deliveries of the 52 F-35s it plans to buy, the Norwegian government gave the troubled warplane program a rare vote of confidence earlier this year. “Despite changes made by other partner nations, Norway finds that its previous and robust real-cost estimates remain accurate,” it said, adding it would take its first four aircraft earlier than expected.

Turkey

Bold plans to buy 100 F-35 fighters seem to be fading although the Ankara has not officially scaled back – or committed to – the purchase.

Other likely buyers

They include Saudi Arabia, among the richest and most regular buyers of U.S. big-ticket military hardware, South Korea, Singapore and Brazil.

This program is the biggest waist of money,by the time we have them their cost will be $200 mil each.
Maintenance also very expensive,its not a sitting duck but a flying one.
Alternatives?none
We cant buy russian or chinese and the rest hasnt got any 5th generation coming up.
We are forced to buy this piece of crap.
Israel going to buy 75,so we have to buy at least 75 to keep up with them.
The TFX program will take at least 20 years.

 

[T-123456]

The first pilot who flew the air craft was Jon Bessly, who also flew the YF-22 prototype, he says the F-35 comes pretty close to the raptor. He also flew the first production raptor.

With credit or money, buy two the second one has free shipping

Doesnt the pilot work for Lockheed Martin?

 

[Esc8781]

Doesnt the pilot work for Lockheed Martin?

Umm.. Yeah, so what? Don't say it is propaganda.

 

[what]

Why not order less and spend a bit more on air defense.
There is no country in the region that could be a real threat for Turkey anyway, even without the F35.

 

[Kompromat]

Umm.. Yeah, so what? Don't say it is propaganda.

He has to keep his job.

 

[Vatoz]

This... "It's not even Mach 1 for gods sake." It can go Mach 1.6 FULL INTERNAL BAYS besides let me let you into a little secret. There are really not much dogfights that happens at supersonic speeds.

Thank you I've done my homework now my mistake :s

 

[LegionnairE]

It's really not the time to second-guess ourselves. Few billion dollars is small money for a country like Turkey.

We'll eventually replace all of our F16 fleet with F35s, now it's F4 2020 Terminators' turn

 

[RazPaK]

It's really not the time to second-guess ourselves. Few billion dollars is small money for a country like Turkey.

We'll eventually replace all of our F16 fleet with F35s, now it's F4 2020 Terminators' turn

F-16 is still a solid platform.

Don't understand why you guys are in such a hurry.

 

[Esc8781]

I don't know but these guys should look at the YF-16 development.

 

[IndoUS]

It's really not the time to second-guess ourselves. Few billion dollars is small money for a country like Turkey.

We'll eventually replace all of our F16 fleet with F35s, now it's F4 2020 Terminators' turn

Why not replace the F-16 if the Eurofighter or the Rafale they are both great platforms. And considering Turkey's relation with EU, I am sure they would be fine with selling you the ac. As of the F-16's they are proven aircrafts, but they are also aging, and waiting for the F-35 is not a good idea when the aircraft is so costly and late.

 

[LegionnairE]

@RazPaK, we aren't in a hurry F16s will stay in TURAF inventory probably untill 2030s. But no matter how much i love them, F4s' time for retirement has come

Why not replace the F-16 if the Eurofighter or the Rafale they are both great platforms. And considering Turkey's relation with EU, I am sure they would be fine with selling you the ac. As of the F-16's they are proven aircrafts, but they are also aging, and waiting for the F-35 is not a good idea when the aircraft is so costly and late.

They aren't as capable, simple as that EF's dual EJ200 engines can't give the same amount of thrust of a single PW F135 engine, no stealth.. WTF can we do with EFs in 2040s? I don't even want to talk about Rafale.

As for F35 it won't stay as expensive, we are producing lots of F35 parts at home and TAI will open an F35 assembly line. More money will enter Turkey by exporting F35 parts than the amount the government will pay for the plane. Our offset figures are over %100

 

[VelocuR]

Then what to do? Please wait the decisions from Kemal Ataturk, listen to him carefully. He will advise you what to do or Putin recommendation.

No hurry needed for fancy stuffs.....

 

[hunter_hunted]

Long Live JF-17

 

[Quasar]

Then what to do? Please wait the decisions from Kemal Ataturk, listen to him carefully. He will advise you what to do or Putin recommendation.

No hurry needed for fancy stuffs.....

we don't think you are an attention ***** at all