Senior military sources have interpreted Ankara’s attempt to acquire at least one squadron of Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft as an effort by Turkey to restore its air force balance with Greece.
The Rafale model is equipped with advanced sensors and systems that position it between 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft.
Turkey, following a failed coup in 2016 and subsequent purges in its army and air force, lost a significant part of its experienced personnel and has since done little to strengthen its air force fleet.
If Ankara secures the green light from Berlin for German military exports to Turkey and acquires, as an initial order, 24 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, which could eventually reach up to 40, then the neighboring country will have taken an important step towards restoring its air force balance with Greece.
The core of both the Greek and Turkish air forces consists of F-16 fighters.
Turkey has started negotiations for the upgrade of 80 F-16 Vipers and supply of a further 40 with the Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics Corp, this fighter jet’s US manufacturers, but it is not clear whether the entire order will be carried out, primarily given its huge costs.
Source: Ekathimerini.com
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