00:00Turkey's Air Force is facing challenges amid growing regional tensions with Greece and Israel,
00:16two countries backed by advanced Western military technology and alliances.
00:21A recent report from a government-linked think tank, the SETA Foundation,
00:26warns that Turkey risks military vulnerability if urgent modernization efforts are not accelerated.
00:35The SETA report highlights that Turkey's air power mainly relies on aging F-16 fighter jets,
00:42many dating back to the 1980s and early 1990s.
00:47These aircraft are reaching the end of their operational life,
00:50making Turkey vulnerable against regional rivals who have equipped themselves with 5th-generation stealth fighters
00:58like Israel's F-35s and Greece's new Rafale fighter jets.
01:04The think tank emphasizes the need for Turkey not only to replenish its fighter fleet
01:10but also to strengthen air defense and space-based capabilities
01:14to face simultaneous threats from Israel and Greece.
01:19Turkey's ambitions to develop a domestic 5th-generation Kahn fighter jet
01:24have faced delays and technical challenges,
01:27especially issues related to engine development,
01:30which could postpone its deployment well into the 2030s.
01:35This leaves Turkey dependent on older 4th-generation fighter jets and military drones in the short term.
01:43Compounding Turkey's Air Force challenges are past decisions that have affected its readiness.
01:49After the purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems,
01:52Turkey was expelled from the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program,
01:57removing access to cutting-edge technology and international cooperation.
02:02Additionally, purges in the military following the 2016 coup attempt
02:07severely reduced the number of experienced pilots,
02:11further weakening operational capabilities.
02:13Despite these challenges, Turkey has been investing heavily in indigenous defense programs,
02:19including unmanned aerial vehicles like the Bayraktar drones,
02:24as well as new air defense missile systems such as Hissar and Saipur.
02:29Ankara aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers
02:32and bolster self-sufficiency in defense production.
02:36The Turkish government is also seeking the acquisition of new F-16 Block 70 aircraft from the US,
02:43pending approval from the US Congress, which remains uncertain.
02:48Rejoining the F-35 program is also a long-term aspiration for Turkey,
02:53but remains complicated by geopolitical and diplomatic issues.
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