Turkey approves F-35, Anka UAV purchases

Turkey approved the purchase of an initial two Lockheed Martin F-35s during a 5 January meeting of its Undersecretariat of Defence Industries (SSM), launching the start of its air force's next-generation fighter project.

"Turkey has been a member of the Joint Strike Fighter [JSF] project since 1999. According to the developments, SSM decided to order two F-35s which are planned to start delivery in 2015," the organisation said. "SSM will continue negotiating over the remaining aircraft according to developments in the JSF project."

Ankara plans to eventually buy 116 F-35A Lighting II aircraft to replace its McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantoms and Block 30-standard Lockheed F-16s.

The SSM also approved an air force order for 10 Turkish Aerospace Industries Anka medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned air vehicles (development example pictured below) and three ground control stations. The Bell 429 has been selected for a 15-aircraft deal to replace Aerospatiale-built Alouette II helicopters flown by the Turkish police.

Negotiations have also been launched with Turkey's Kale Aero Group to develop a turbojet engine for the Tubitak Sage-designed modular stand-off missile. The roughly 600kg (1,300lb) cruise missile design has been offered as a possible candidate weapon for the nation's F-35s.


Source: By Tolga Ozbek Istanbul - 06 January 2012 - Flightglobal News (www.flightglobal.com)

Photo: The TAI Anka UAV (Photo by © Turkish Aerospace Industries)

Photo Story: The Turkish government has announced that it will be purchasing the Anka unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from TAI.

The government committee, consisting of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Defense Minister İsmet Yılmaz, Chief of the General Staff Gen Neçdet Özel and procurement chief Murad Bayar, made the announcement in a statement that also included a commitment to purchase Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jets.

According to the statement, the Turkish defence procurement agency (SSM) will purchase ten Anka aircraft from TAI. The announcement comes after three successful flight tests were conducted on the UAV, following a bumpy start to the programme, which saw the first three flight tests of the vehicle end in crash landings.

The committee’s decision will pave the way for the serial production of the ten Anka platforms for the Turkish military.

(By the Shephard News Team, 05 January 2012- Shephard Group / Mil-Log News (www.shephardmedia.com))

(6.01.2012)