Both Air Forces are having similar quality as they are mostly fielding the same type of aircrafts (a few Rafales doesn't tip the balance at this point).
6 Rafale no,but by the end of the year they might be around 10 with some 8-9 F-16Vs. That does tip the balance in the air. Mirage 2000-5 Mk2,Rafale F3Rs,F-16Vs,F-16 Block 52+/Block 52+ Adv.
They are not desperately asking for F-16V. They have their money locked with the US and this would be the best outcome. Eurofighter was just fanboys, not actual official interest. Anyhow, Turkey is seeing that HAF is arming themselves, so naturally they are also looking into different options. Doesn't mean they are desperate.
But they are! They desperately tried to get a mid-term solution until their TFX is in production. They asked for F-16Vs,they were rejected,then they said they could buy Su-35s and Su-57s if the Americans didn't give them any. Of course,they didn't. Then they asked for F-16s again from the Americans. Then they were thinking of getting Eurofighters from Britain.
For a country that constantly brags about how superior its military is from "tiny Greece",trying to buy new jets ASAP shows they started understanding that they might not have dominance in the air if they keep like this.
@Akritas could tell you more about how much they wanted those F-16Vs
Congress hasn't categorically or in any other way declined selling to Turkey. They are discussing the subject. Second batch of S-400 is not a thing - news were denied by Turkey.
Congress has already passed a vote to block any sales if the government tries to give them F-16Vs.
Second batch of S-400s is a thing because Erdogan and other officials keep mentioning it in their speeches. It's not official yet,there's no deal,but they keep talking about getting them.
Both Air Forces are having similar quality as they are mostly fielding the same type of aircrafts (a few Rafales doesn't tip the balance at this point).
They are not desperately asking for F-16V. They have their money locked with the US and this would be the best outcome. Eurofighter was just fanboys, not actual official interest. Anyhow, Turkey is seeing that HAF is arming themselves, so naturally they are also looking into different options. Doesn't mean they are desperate.
Congress hasn't categorically or in any other way declined selling to Turkey. They are discussing the subject. Second batch of S-400 is not a thing - news were denied by Turkey.
I don't see how you made that conclusion. Today, Turkey has the advantage. If Turkey fails to either get F-16V or to be successful with Ozgur, KE, TF-X then HAF will have the advantage from 2024 onwards.
That's why I said
right now and not in the far future. If KE passes all tests,it MIGHT get in production by 2025. TFX is expected to be in production maybe in 2030.
And if the US keep the sanctions,they will have problems flying their F-16s. Rumor has it,they've already stockpiled spare parts,because they started slowly having problems with their fighter jet fleet.
Their biggest advantage are their UCAVs. We're zero when it comes to that compared to Turkey.