TheImmortal
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Turkey has access to other countries' launch systems is a better way to phrase it, we still make our own satellites. And already SpaceX is so cheap so currently there are no issues.
Yes, however, if Turkey ever falls out of favor with west it will lose access to such systems. Again unlikely considering Turkey is NATO. But stranger things have happened in world history.
But still, it doesn't justify the lax attitude. of Turkey's space program. The government just doesn't give a shit and it's embarrassing.
LIRA is 20+ to the dollar. Space programs are VERY expensive. I don’t think Turkey has the luxury of wasting billions of dollars at this time to have a space capability that doesn’t advance its security by a whole lot. Future can be different once economic conditions improve.
As for ballistic missiles, how many BMs did Russia throw at Ukraine?
Russia is a nuclear based BM power. Its BMs are designed for delivering nuclear payloads not pinpoint precision. Its tactical missiles are compromised mostly of Iskander which is good for hitting fixed targets. It did its job, however, its enemy is right next door so the value doesn’t go far. Furthermore, Russian firepower is built around artillery and fighter jets not missile centric doctrine. Missiles are to ensure MAD.
BMs excel at hitting at colonial aggressors (US) who have to come from far away lands or hitting distant enemies without risking aircraft (Israel). That’s where the real value lies.
It hasn't been very effective, and it's very, very expensive. Don't get me wrong it's nice to have the option for shock & awe purposes but aside from that, number of targets in a country that justify BM strikes is very, very low.
Iskander isn’t that expensive to build. Israeli LORA cost $300K to foreign buyers so likely israel builds it less than $200K and that’s a “western military cost”.
More expensive to do a bombing run with F-35’s ($/hr) than it is to fire Islanders. Modern fighter jets cost $10,000+ per hour of operation + maintenance + cost of payload + pilot lives at risk.
Can you think of a target in Iran so important that if it got hit it would cripple the country?
Al-Assad missile attack did over $300M in damages using older (pre 2010) BM technology. That is with the enemy being warned in advance and moving out most of their tech:
5-6 missiles that cost maybe combined less than ~$2M. For comparison that is less than the single cost of loaded TB2 drone.
Buildings, runways, power plants etc. Can all be repaired probably much cheaper than the ballistic missile thrown at them.
Power plants cost billions of dollars (depending on size). An Iranian tactical BM at most cost $300K considering an Israeli LORA cost $300K on open market (not production cost).