Turkey Forges Ahead on Defense Ambitions

illustration

BATAK CENTER FOR EUROPEAN STUDIES -- Turkey’s NATO membership means that it has access to the same technologies as its allied partners. While the nation is involved in a number of large-scale projects—the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) being a prime example—offset requirements remain a key requirement for defense sales to Turkey, and nearly all programs it is involved in have a technology transfer element to them.

This is the result of a push from the government for Turkey to bolster its defense manufacturing capability. Progress is being made in many areas, but there is a still a reliance on guidance from partner nations that have a more comprehensive knowledge of certain technologies, and to which Ankara still looks to for assistance. This can both work in Turkey’s favor as well as against it, however, as it looks toward conflicting partners for this guidance.

While involvement in the United States-led F-35 program is significant for the country and for domestic development of parts for the multi-national effort, Turkey’s relationship with another partner—namely Russia—has led to the suspension of deliveries of the F-35 to Turkey.

Washington was displeased with Ankara’s decision to select the S-400 air defense system developed in Russia—something that it claims compromises the interoperability of the Turkish aircraft into the NATO network—which alongside a number of perceived human rights violations committed by Turkey against U.S. citizens led to the suspension of deliveries of the F-35.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, however, has remained steadfast in his stance that the nation will partner with whoever it elects to, and the government-to-government dispute continues.


More

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google Plus

About BCFES

BCFES is Batak Center for European Studies. Please leave comments..