The modern Turkish military

Reading from another site (defencenet.gr), it seems that actually by 'military units' is meant simply groups of officers, something that already exists.
Bah, I got excited for a moment there.

How does the Turkish airforce rank globally?

The turkish air force is relatively big, and has some decent aircraft. Since air force is a very expensive branch, you can easily guess that the big economic powers have better air forces.
A decade ago, it was stronger, but since then Turkey hasn't done much for it, and it has aged.
Now Turkey is upgrading her fleet of F-16, and is buying an additional 30 F-16. Turkey participates also in the F-35 programme.

Turkey's air force is oriented on ground attack mainly. It has more air-to-ground
weapons than Greece, and the same quality. It lacks however enough and good air-to-air weapons. It has fewer and older than Greece (and the greek air force is smaller...)
I don't know about fuel reserves.
About pilot numbers I thibnk Turkey has many of them. There is a problem though, that many pilots abandon the military to work in turkish commercial air lines, where the salaries are better.
Quality is difficult to measure. Originally (before the 1980's), the quality of the turkish pilots was poor. Today, after the cotraining with the americnas, and the constant dog fights with the greek air force, the quality has improved greatly, but is still not top. The israelis are propably better, but against other local players, such as Syria, Iran etc, the turkish pilots may have an advandage.

The overall aim of the defense industry strategy plan includes increasing locally produced defense systems to 50 percent by the end of 2010 from the current 25 percent, increasing the export of defense products and services to around $1 billion per year by 2011 from the current $200 to $300 million, and harmonizing the quality system of Turkish defense industry companies with that of the SSM quality policy by the end of 2009.

Turna Drone


Airborne Thermal Imaging and Targeting System


Aselsan STAMP



IYTE Robotik bomb defuser ($200k a unit)


Search and rescue
MRTP20 (75knts)


Aselsan anti-submarine rocket launcher:
http://www.elkongrup.com/maket/ASELSAN-03.jpg">

Developed for export to former-Soviet republics, Aselsan SA-18 Igla (Russian anti-aircraft missile) launcher and fire control system:
http://www.elkongrup.com/maket/ASELSAN-07.jpg">

T-155 Self Propelled FIRTINA Howitzer
http://img486.imageshack.us/img486/1628/frtna1is8.jpg"> http://img.blogcu.com/uploads/Defense_17-44-34_firtina01.jpg">

Other Turkish naval projects currently being designed, built, and tested at Turkish Naval docks









Edited by kafkas - 23-Mar-2008 at 06:46

Originally posted by tolga Yassou Leonidas, İ am Tolga from Turkey. Can i ask you a question. if you dont mind   Do you rely think that turkish army and gov. have wish to atack Greece, no matter what the balance of power is? İf so why do you think like that.

Welcome Tolga. I try to answer any honest question with an honest answer.

No i don't think they will attack, its too costly in both men and dollars.

 Though I believe the TNI will always benefit with some sort of difference between the two nations, they seem to hold the harder line on some of the foreign policy 'red lines' that makes diplomacy very hard. I don't trust the TNI leadership, not because they want to attack us, rather they have their own political agenda and will use foreign and internal threats for their own benefit.

You want to take this on to another thread?




Edited by Leonidas - 22-Mar-2008 at 04:34

Hello Room Helloo Leonidas,

Hi Leonidas,

Originally posted by Leonidas Originally posted by JUliusAugustus seems turkey uses american equipment more. they have the largest army in europe right?  mainly US with a decent dash of Israeli technology ( via munitions and upgrades). IIRC the EW suites on the f-16 fleet are British.  They are diversifying away quite smartly from those traditional sources now, pushing for more technology ownership in the more recent deals. This is to grow their own defence industry, and some how precludes the US which doesn't like sharing such things. They have the largest army by head count and are second only to the US in NATO. @ Tolga happy to talk, but this thread should be left alone

thanks leonidas, hmm, man didnt expect the Israeli additive in there but seeing how amazing the Israeli army is and their technology, couldnt agree more with Turkey's desire to combine both US and Israeli ammunition.

Originally posted by Leonidas Originally posted by tolga because our side conversation is about politics and can hijack what this thread is about-  the Turkish militray and its equipment. To respect the thread you need to take such other conversations elsewhere.

Ok leonidas, I agree with you. i think i am sensitive about politic some time

Originally posted by Yiannis Just imagine if this money would be invested in national health, education/research, public infrastructure etc instead in useless heaps of metal!!!