Turkey https://thedefensepost.com/tag/turkey/ Your Gateway to Defense News Fri, 20 Sep 2024 06:22:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.6.1 https://thedefensepost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/cropped-defense-post-roundel-temp-32x32.png Turkey https://thedefensepost.com/tag/turkey/ 32 32 Turkey Requests US Approval to Buy GE Engine for Domestic Jet https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/19/turkey-us-ge-engine/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=turkey-us-ge-engine Thu, 19 Sep 2024 14:43:09 +0000 https://thedefensepost.com/?p=85550 Turkey has formally requested the purchase of GE Aerospace F404 engine from the US for its locally-developed Hurjet light attack aircraft.

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Turkey has formally requested the purchase of a GE Aerospace F404 engine from the US for its locally-developed Hurjet light attack aircraft.

Ankara intends to replace its aging fleet of Northrop Grumman T-38 jet trainers and F-5 light jets with the Hurjet, originally designed as a jet trainer.

“We look forward to further deepening our defense partnership with Turkey, a key NATO ally,” Bloomberg quoted an official from the US Embassy in Ankara as saying.

The Hurjet

The in-development aircraft is fitted with modern avionics, air-to-ground missiles, and guided munitions.

It features a service ceiling of 45,000 feet (13,716 meters) and a maximum speed of Mach 1.2.

The single-engine, tandem-seat aircraft has a payload capacity of around three tons (3,000 kilograms/6,614 pounds).

F101 Engine

Additionally, Turkey is seeking GE Aerospace F110 engines for its fifth-generation Kaan fighter jet project.

Both engines are considered to be interim solutions, expected to be replaced with domestic versions at a later stage.

Turkey’s relations deteriorated with the US after it purchased the Russian S-400 air defense system in 2019.

However, relations have started to improve after Ankara ratified Sweden’s NATO membership bid earlier this year.

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Armenia Seeks India’s Support to Modernize Air Force: Report https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/19/armenia-india-support/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=armenia-india-support Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:05:22 +0000 https://thedefensepost.com/?p=85528 Armenia has reportedly been in talks with India to procure missiles and upgrade its Su-30 combat aircraft fleet.

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Armenia has reportedly been in talks with India to procure missiles and upgrade its Su-30 combat aircraft fleet.

The country’s air force department head Col. Hovhannes Vardanyan discussed possible areas of cooperation with Indian Armed Forces Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Anil Chauhan at the International Defence Aviation Exposition 2024 in Jodhpur in early September. 

“We are looking at modernising our Su-30s with the help of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited as it has a lot of expertise in the field,” Vardanyan told Hindustan Times.

Though the talks are still in the early stages, an unnamed source from India’s defense ministry informed The Print that Yerevan was looking to upgrade their Su-30s and integrate Indian-made weapons, including guided air-to-surface munitions.

The source noted that first addressing missile export protocols and the regional conflict surrounding Nagorno-Karabakh is crucial.

Tensions in the South Caucasus

Armenia and Azerbaijan, both former Soviet republics, have been engaged in a long-standing territorial dispute over Nagorno-Karabakh that has resulted in significant civilian displacement.

Russia acted as a broker for ceasefires and deployed peacekeepers in affected areas.

In the two countries’ 44-day war in 2020, Baku launched a military offensive that was backed by Turkey and also reportedly by Pakistan. 

Meanwhile, Yerevan failed to deploy its four Su-30s bought from Moscow due to their lack of firepower, which significantly contributed to Baku’s ability to regain control over the region. 

The results of this loss, coupled with the landlocked country’s frustrations with delayed Russian imports, prompted its push to diversify its defense partnerships.

India looked to supply arms to Armenia to boost its growing self-reliant defense industry and counterbalance Turkey and Pakistan’s influence in the region.

Since 2020, they have enhanced their military relationship through various arms agreements and announced plans to appoint defense attachés in each other’s countries. 

In the same year, Armenia signed a $40-million defense deal and a $2-billion military partnership with India that included provisions for various Indian-made weapon systems.

Among various munitions supplied recently, India sold its first indigenously designed Pinaka Multiple-Barrel Rocket Launchers to Armenia for around $265 million, facilitated through transfers via Iran. 

“The former Soviet Republic of Armenia has become the largest importer of weapons from India after concluding deals on the purchase of Pinaka multiple-launch rocket systems and Akash anti-aircraft systems,” according to an Indian Finance Ministry report. 

Azerbaijan’s Concerns

In July 2023, the assistant to the President of Azerbaijan and Head of the Foreign Policy Department Hikmat Hajiyev urged Indian Ambassador Sridharan Madhusudhanan to reconsider how their actions may contribute to Armenia’s militarization and impact ongoing peace negotiations between the two South Caucasus nations.

Hajiyev emphasized that India’s arms supply contradicts its stated foreign policy principles grounded in international law and the Bandung Principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, of which the South Asian country is a member.

In response, Madhusudhanan acknowledged Hajiyev’s concerns while underscoring the necessity for dialogue among involved parties.

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Drone Strike Kills Three in Iraq’s Kurdish Region: Official https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/06/drone-strike-kurdish-region/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=drone-strike-kurdish-region Fri, 06 Sep 2024 04:27:14 +0000 https://thedefensepost.com/?p=84625 A drone strike killed three people in Iraq's Kurdish region, where the Turkish military regularly targets Kurdish fighters.

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A drone strike on Thursday killed three people including a child in Iraq’s northern autonomous Kurdish region, where the Turkish military regularly targets Kurdish fighters, a local official said.

“This afternoon, a drone attacked a pick-up, killing three people, including a child,” Osman Anwar, the district governor of Chwarta, where the attack took place, told AFP.

The driver was identified as “a regular citizen, a farmer,” but the identity of the two other passengers was not known due to the severity of their burns, Anwar said, adding that the strike targeted the vehicle near the village of Harmeleh.

Turkey has maintained dozens of military bases in northern Iraq for the past quarter of a century as part of its campaign against militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

The leftist group has waged an on-off insurgency against Turkey since 1984, and is blacklisted as a “terrorist organization” by Ankara and its Western allies.

Thursday’s strike comes a day after a similar attack on a car in the autonomous region that also killed three people, a father and his two teenaged sons aged 18 and 14, according to Kamaran Osman, a human rights officer from the Community Peacemaker Teams organization.

The Turkish defense ministry on Tuesday said its forces had launched air strikes on the PKK in the mountains of northern Iraq, claiming to have killed “numerous” militants.

Iraq’s federal government in Baghdad discreetly outlawed the PKK as a “banned organization” in March, and last month agreed a military cooperation deal with Ankara that will see joint training and command centers set up in the fight against the militants.

On August 23, a drone strike that officials in the Kurdish region blamed on Turkey killed two women journalists working for PKK-funded outlets.

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US Approves Sale of RIM-116 Self-Defense Missile to Turkish Navy https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/04/us-rim-missile-turkish/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=us-rim-missile-turkish Wed, 04 Sep 2024 14:32:51 +0000 https://thedefensepost.com/?p=84495 The US government has approved the sale of 94 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles to the Turkish Navy.

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The US government has approved the sale of 94 RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAM) to the Turkish Navy.

The $90-million sale includes 94 Mk 44 MOD 4 (tactical) RAM Guided Missile Round Packs, 3 Mk 47 MOD 9 telemeter missiles, and 1 blast test vehicle, Naval News reported, citing a US House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs report.

According to the outlet, the Raytheon missile is being bought for the Turkish Navy’s ADA-class corvettes, which are equipped with the RAM point defense missile system.

The Turkish Navy has a fleet of five indigenously developed ADA-class anti-submarine corvettes, a pair of which are also being built for the Ukrainian Navy.

The RAM system was originally intended to be installed on the indigenous Istanbul-class frigates. However, due to US sanctions, the indigenous Gokdeniz 35-mm close-in weapon system was preferred.

RIM-116 Rolling Airframe Missile

The ship-borne, infrared-homing, surface-to-air missile is used as a point defense weapon against anti-ship missiles.

It flies at a speed of over Mach 2 (1,500 miles/2,500 kilometers per hour) and has an operational range of 9 kilometers (5.6 miles).

The missile features a 10-kilogram (22 pounds) blast fragmentation warhead and is deployed through the MK49 RAM Guided Missile Launching System and MK15 Mod 32 SeaRAM Close-In Weapon System.

Over 165 vessels in 11 countries are equipped with the missile system, ranging from 500-ton fast attack craft to 95,000-ton aircraft carriers.

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Azerbaijan to Equip JF-17 Fighter Squadron With Turkish Missiles https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/04/azerbaijan-fighter-squadron-missiles/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=azerbaijan-fighter-squadron-missiles Wed, 04 Sep 2024 10:35:34 +0000 https://thedefensepost.com/?p=84468 The Azerbaijan Air Force is set to boost the lethality of its upcoming JF-17 fighter aircraft with the purchase of Turkish Bozdoğan and Gökdoğan missiles.

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The Azerbaijan Air Force is set to boost the lethality of its upcoming JF-17 fighter aircraft with the purchase of Turkish Bozdoğan and Gökdoğan missiles.

Defense magazine Turkish Century announced the procurement on X, noting that the warplanes are also getting an advanced avionics suite made by Ankara.

Developed by TÜBİTAK SAGE, the Bozdoğan missile is designed for short-range engagements of up to 25 kilometers (15 miles), making it well-suited for close combat.

It features a powerful fragmentation warhead and an infrared guidance system to ensure precision strikes.

In contrast, the Gökdoğan uses an advanced guidance system and active radar to effectively intercept beyond visual range targets.

It boasts a medium-range capability of up to 65 kilometers (40 miles).

Integrating these Turkish missiles into the JF-17 is expected to significantly enhance the aircraft’s air-to-air combat capability, providing it with a substantial tactical edge.

Dozens of JF-17 Under Order

To address its longstanding need for combat aircraft, Azerbaijan recently inked a $1.6-billion deal with Pakistan for 24 JF-17 Thunder fighter jets.

The warplanes will be in the latest Block III configuration, featuring improved avionics and weaponry, as reported by local media.

The agreement also covers unspecified ammunition and comprehensive training support to ensure that the Azerbaijan Air Force will be well-prepared to operate the aircraft.

Initial deliveries are expected to begin next year, with the full order anticipated to be completed by 2027.

A lightweight and versatile fighter jet, the JF-17 is capable of supporting various missions, including reconnaissance and close air support.

It is equipped with an active electronically scanned array radar for superior detection and tracking, and can achieve speeds exceeding Mach 2.

The aircraft is jointly developed by the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex and China’s Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp.

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Turkey Says Launched Fresh Air Strikes on PKK in N. Iraq https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/03/turkey-fresh-strikes-pkk-iraq/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=turkey-fresh-strikes-pkk-iraq Tue, 03 Sep 2024 10:50:10 +0000 https://www.thedefensepost.com/?p=84391 Turkey said it had launched fresh air strikes on what it said were Kurdish militants in the mountains of northern Iraq.

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Turkey said on Tuesday it had launched fresh air strikes on what it said were Kurdish militants in the mountains of northern Iraq.

The defense ministry said it had struck “20 targets” in Asos, Gara, Hakurk, Metina, Qandil, and Zap.

It alleged they were “caves, bunkers, shelters, depots and installations” used by the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which has waged an on-off insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984 and is blacklisted as a “terrorist organisation” by Ankara and its Western allies.

The Turkish army, whose incursions onto Iraqi soil are regularly condemned by Baghdad, said it had killed “numerous” militants in its latest assault.

On Saturday, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was determined to “eliminate” separatists, arguing that they were a threat to both his country and Iraq.

The PKK has a number of rear bases in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.

For the past quarter century, Turkey has maintained dozens of its own bases there.

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Turkey Test-Fires Longer Range ATMACA Cruise Missile  https://thedefensepost.com/2024/09/02/turkey-test-atmaca-missile/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=turkey-test-atmaca-missile Mon, 02 Sep 2024 14:24:28 +0000 https://www.thedefensepost.com/?p=84313 Turkey has test-fired the ATMACA Kara (land) surface-to-surface cruise missile, achieving its longest range and duration.

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Turkey has test-fired the ATMACA Kara (land) surface-to-surface cruise missile, achieving its longest range and duration.

The Roketsan missile struck a floating target during the test after being fired from a mobile launcher.

“The Kara Atmaca, a jam-resistant, long-range cruise missile, which is planned to be used against strategic land targets that require high precision,” head of the Presidency of Defense Industries Haluk Gorgun wrote on X.

“In the flight test carried out with Kale Arge’s KTJ-3700 engine, Kara Atmaca precisely struck its target and achieved its longest flight.”

Features

The missile’s stated operational range is 280 kilometers (174 miles), about 60 kilometers (37 miles) greater than its anti-ship variant.

It weighs around 890 kilograms (1,958 pounds), including a 250-kilogram (551-pound) warhead.

The ATMACA is powered by the locally-developed KTJ3700 turbojet engine developed by Kale Arge.

The jam-resistant missile features an imaging infrared seeker and multiple guidance systems such as an inertial navigation system, global positioning system, and terrain referenced navigation.

ATMACA’s expected targets include strategic land targets, air defense batteries, and both fixed and mobile land-based missile systems. It is expected to enter service in 2026.

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Iraq Army Says Downed Turkish Drone Over Northern City https://thedefensepost.com/2024/08/29/iraq-downs-turkish-drone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=iraq-downs-turkish-drone Thu, 29 Aug 2024 15:04:49 +0000 https://www.thedefensepost.com/?p=84124 The Iraqi military said it downed a Turkish drone over the northern city of Kirkuk as Ankara kept up its operations against Kurdish militants inside Iraq.

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The Iraqi military said it downed a Turkish drone over the northern city of Kirkuk on Thursday as Ankara kept up its operations against Kurdish militants inside Iraq.

Falling debris damaged a house in the city center, police and army officials told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

There were no reports of any direct casualties but the police official said a carpenter working on a nearby building site had been admitted to hospital after a fall.

“A Turkish drone which penetrated Iraqi airspace has been shot down,” the deputy air defense commander for Kirkuk, General Abdel Salam Ramadan, told a press conference at the site of the downing.

The aircraft had come “from the direction of Sulaimaniyah,” second city of the Kurdish autonomous region to the north, Ramadan said.

Ethnically mixed Kirkuk and its surrounding oil fields do not form part of the autonomous region but are directly administered by the federal government in Baghdad.

Turkey has maintained dozens of military bases in northern Iraq for the past quarter of a century as part of its campaign against militants of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).

Its troops routinely carry out operations against PKK targets but it comments on them only sporadically.

The Iraqi federal government discreetly outlawed the PKK as a “banned organisation” in March and earlier this month agreed to a military cooperation deal with Ankara that will see joint training and command centers set up in the fight against the militants.

The leftist group, which has waged a deadly on-off insurgency against the Turkish state since 1984, is blacklisted as a “terrorist organisation” by Ankara and its Western allies.

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Turkey’s Anka-III Stealth Drone Achieves ‘Important’ Milestone https://thedefensepost.com/2024/08/23/turkey-anka-drone-milestone/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=turkey-anka-drone-milestone Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:45:57 +0000 https://www.thedefensepost.com/?p=83783 Turkish Aerospace Industries proudly announced a new development milestone for its Anka-III stealth drone.

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Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) proudly announced a new development milestone for its Anka-III stealth drone.

In a statement on X, the company revealed that the unmanned platform successfully retracted its landing gear mid-air during its most recent flight test.

During previous flights, the drone’s landing gear remained outside while airborne.

According to TAI, this represents an “important” phase in the Anka-III’s development, bringing it one step closer to full-rate production and deployment.

“ANKA III, which is getting stronger every day, is counting the days for the security of our homeland,” the company wrote.

About the Anka-III

A twin-engine platform, the Anka-III integrates a variety of cutting-edge technologies, including advanced avionics, an autopilot system, and an electro-optical/infrared camera.

Its synthetic aperture radar also ensures effective surveillance and reconnaissance in adverse weather conditions.

Additionally, the Turkish aerial system boasts stealth characteristics, making it difficult for enemy radars to detect it.

To support combat operations, the Anka-III is capable of carrying a wide range of munitions, from precision-guided bombs to laser-guided rockets.

The drone completed its maiden flight in December 2023, lasting one hour and 10 minutes.

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Turkey Says ‘Notable Progress’ in Somalia, Ethiopia Talks https://thedefensepost.com/2024/08/14/progress-somalia-ethiopia-talks/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=progress-somalia-ethiopia-talks Wed, 14 Aug 2024 07:24:34 +0000 https://www.thedefensepost.com/?p=83008 Turkey said Horn of Africa rivals Somalia and Ethiopia made "notable progress" on the second round of talks in Ankara aiming to overcome their differences.

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Turkey said Horn of Africa rivals Somalia and Ethiopia made “notable progress” on the second round of talks in Ankara on Tuesday aiming to overcome their differences.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan mediated talks between his counterparts from two rival neighbors in Africa as Turkey is pushing for diplomatic and economic influence on the continent.

Turkey has been carrying out shuttle diplomacy between Ethiopian and Somalian foreign ministers since Monday when both parties refused to meet.

“I am pleased to announce that the number and extent of issues we discussed, has increased significantly, compared to the first round,” Fidan said in English, speaking to the press alongside his two counterparts.

Turkey mediated the first round of talks in July.

“There are important convergences on some major principles and specific modalities. This constitutes notable progress,” Fidan added.

The two neighbors have a history of stormy relations and territorial feuds. They fought two wars in the late 20th century.

These tensions were exacerbated earlier this year when Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with Somaliland that gives Ethiopia — one of the largest landlocked countries in the world — long-sought-after sea access.

In return, Somaliland — which unilaterally declared independence from Somalia in 1991, a move not recognized by Mogadishu — has said Ethiopia would give it formal recognition, although these assertions have not been confirmed by Addis Ababa.

Under the January 1 pact, Somaliland agreed to lease 20 kilometers (12 miles) of its coast for 50 years to Ethiopia, which wants to set up a naval base and a commercial port.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Taye Atske Selassie told the press Addis Ababa sought to “secure dependable access” to the sea.

“In these discussions and we will remain ready to work closely to find solutions for regional tensions,” he said.

“We look forward to have continued engagement that will ultimately help us resolve current differences.”

Somalia’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Ahmed Moallim Fiqi said “progress was made” in Tuesday’s talks.

“Somalia remains committed to protecting its sovereignty, territorial integrity and unity,” he said.

“As we prepare for the third round of talks we are hopeful that the momentum that we have built will lead to a final solution.”

The next round of talks is scheduled for September 17 in Ankara, Fidan said.

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