Posted on 03/12/2011 8:43:54 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
‘Code crisis’ overshadows Turkey’s planned purchase of F-35 jets
12 March 2011, Saturday / EMRE SONCA, ANKARA
A “code crisis” has erupted in Ankara that could threaten Turkey’s participation in a US-led project to produce F-35 fighter jets, further complicated by the presentation of a bill to Turkey for an additional $4 billion to offset the growing costs of the project.
The Turkish side in this $16 billion project has repeatedly knocked on America’s door to ask for the flight codes for the fighter jets into which so much money has been invested. However, the Pentagon has rejected these demands on the part of Turkey. America’s refusal to turn over the codes belonging to the jets and to share the software technology used in their production is making Turkey nervous.
Though Ankara plans at this point to purchase around 100 of these fighter jets, there is the awareness in the Turkish capital that without the codes in question, possession of the jet planes will only be partial. There are assertions at hand that the F-35s will be controllable from outside sources, that they may be defenseless against electronic warfare and that no changes will be able to be made to their software. At this point, diplomatic circles claim the UK will be withdrawing from the consortium was formed to realize the project for these same reasons.
Currently, Turkish bureaucrats and the government are trying to decide on a definitive stance to adopt in this matter. As for the ultimate fate of the F-35s in question, it will become clear at a meeting scheduled for April 13 in the US. Turkey is to be represented at this critical meeting by the undersecretary for the defense industry (SSM), Murad Bayar.
Turkey is one of a group of countries designated as production nations for the F-35, which has been designed to be the “hunter of the future.” Along with Turkey, Italy, Denmark, Norway, Australia, the US, and Canada are all a part of this project. A budget of $10 billion has been earmarked in the Turkish Treasury for this project, whose first fighter jet is slated to be presented to Turkey some time in 2015.
Although there has been no F-35 turned over to Turkey yet, an bill for an extra $4 billion, based on higher than predicted costs for the building of the planes, was presented to Ankara. In fact, taking into consideration logistics as well as other costs, the total cost to Turkey is now said to be likely to reach $16 billion. The SSM has already gone to the Treasury to ask for the extra cost to be covered, following requests from the General Staff.
Why are we allowing a potentially hostile nation to help make a STEALTH AIRCRAFT?
The Erdogan Government is NOT on our side! Scuttle that deal!
I’m sure that a special arrangement could be made. Sturxnet, anyone?
The ‘new’ Turkey is not a friend but I can’t see them or the Brits or anyone buying a $150 Million plane that US can turn off with a switch.
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Cheers!
That's exactly what the Obama Administration is asking the Israeli's to accept!
So much for the "special relationship" with our most important ally.
We should right Turkey off any plans for Military equipment. I still have a problem with them when they wouldn’t let our 4th ID into Iraq from the North.
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