via DefenseNews.
Despite ups and downs, we remain fully committed to the [Joint Strike Fighter] program. But independently, we will develop our own fighter. There is an established policy understanding to keep our [fighter] fleet limited to these two only,” said a senior government official for defense procurement.The evidence is mounting.
An official from the procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), confirmed: “We think a combination of both aircraft will ensure sufficient firepower and deterrence.”
The SSM official said the F-35 has some weaknesses in air-to-air combat, but the TF-X would compensate. TF-X is Turkey’s indigenous fighter under development.
After delays of more than a year, Turkey’s top procurement panel last month officially decided to order the country’s first two F-35s. The order is for the first F-35A aircraft with Block-3F configuration under Low Rate Initial Production-10.
The F-35 is going to be a DOG when it comes to aerial combat.
How do we know this? The RAF has constantly stated that the Typhoon will be their air to air platform of choice and that the F-35 will be used for strike missions. The Italian Air Chief said it out loud. The F-35 doesn't cut it for air to air combat and now this. Turkey is saying that they will build their own indigenous airplane instead of relying on the F-35.
I wonder.
How can the Netherlands, Canada, Japan and S. Korea have been fooled into thinking that the F-35 will be an adequate replacement for F-16/18's when they got the same briefs as the RAF, Italy and Turkey?
To save Western air forces we must kill this airplane.
