Ankara is considering alternative plans if the F-16 fighter programme does not go ahead. In particular, the Turkish government may be interested in buying Eurofighter Typhoon fighters if the request to buy new F-16s from the United States and modernize the existing ones does not go ahead, MiddleEastEye website quoted Turkish sources as saying in a report.
According to the same publication, Turkish Air Force Commander General Hassan Kuchukakyuz visited the United Kingdom last month, where he had a meeting on this very issue with the leadership of the British Royal Air Force and more specifically with Commander Sir Mike Wingston.
"Typhoons are very good... They could be a temporary alternative until we get our hands on the domestically produced fifth-generation TF-X, if of course we can't get the F-16s," a Turkish source is quoted as telling MiddleEastEye, while "coincidentally", just two days ago, the pro-government Turkish DailySabah had also published an opinion piece on the very same topic with the same headline: "Instead of waiting for F-16s, Turkey should buy Eurofighter Typhoon."
According to MiddleEastEye, the US Congress may eventually give the green light for the Turkish F-16s but after the next Turkish elections, which are normally scheduled for the summer of 2023.
Back in Turkey, however, some are now rushing to present the Typhoon as an alternative (either because they really believe so, or to thus indirectly put pressure on the US side in favour of F-16s), while the issue is expected to be discussed, according to Turkish Twitter sources, during the upcoming visit of British Foreign Secretary Liz Trash to Ankara.
Source: protothema.gr
Contents of this article including associated images are belongs Cyprus Times
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or Cyprus Times
Source
