Turkey Confirms Early Talks on Potential Su-35 Purchase From Russia Already Exist
Turkey's Undersecretary for Defense Industries told Turkish TV
Turkey’s purchase of Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighters can be an interim decision for the republic, Turkey’s Undersecretary for Defense Industries Ismail Demir told the A Haber TV channel.
“We are in the early stages of our talks with Russia [on fighter purchase]. Su-35s can become an interim decision for us. We need to hold extensive talks on various topics,” he underlined.
Earlier, executive of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugayev said that Turkey has yet to contact Russia to purchase the Su-57 fighters. He pointed out that “the consultations have begun on the Su-35s and on Su-57s as a topic for future [discussion].”
The rumors that Turkey can consider purchasing Russian fighter jets intensified after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Moscow on August 27. When he and Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the MAKS-2019 aerospace show the Turkish leader expressed his interest in the Sukhoi company’s combat aircraft. After that, he did not rule out purchasing Su-35s and Su-57s instead of the US F-35s, saying “why not.”
On July 17, the White House press secretary announced in written statement that Turkey’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 missile systems renders its further participation in the US fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets impossible. Ankara was planning to purchase 100 jets and was producing some of the equipment and assembly parts for the aircraft.
In November 2016, reports came out that Russia and Turkey were negotiating an S-400 missile system supply deal. In September 2017, Moscow confirmed that the deal had been signed, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey had already transferred the advance payment. The first missile systems were delivered to Turkey in July in spite of Washington’s fierce opposition.
Russia’s S-400 Triumph (NATO reporting name: SA-21 Growler) is the latest long-range anti-aircraft missile system that went into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, and can also be used against ground installations.
Source: TASS
Turkey decision to buy Suk 35 instead of F35 is a sound decision, since Suk 35 outperforms the F35 and has a much higher sortie rate and better mainatanace costs.
F35 over its lifetime is estimated to cost 800 million in maintenance costs. 100 F35s would cost 80 billion dollars to maintain over 30 years. F35 operational readiness is at approximately 60%, one or two sorties per week before maintenance needs.
one has to wonder when the RF will agree to supply the S-400 to the Syrian government ?
When Syria can dole out the cash. Russia provided Syria with S300 PMU system for free, Russia has control over the integrated air defenses in Syria in regards to the control of the S300.
your words are contradictory, the S300 belongs to Syria when they control it; if the RF controls it, it is an RF assett.
Syrian crews are trained to handle the s300, multiple radar illumination and air defense priorities are controlled by the Russians. If Russia does not want Syria to fire the missiles, they will not be fired. Russia is concerned of a war erupting in the ME.
Syrians can fire the s200, Buk M2, Pantsir …..etc. Also the Russians are keenly aware the S300 should not be left alone in Syrian hands due to some possible shortcomings, they will make sure they have full control in case it has to be used.