Turkish Armed Forces

[ArmChairCivvy]

Allegedly, the new US Defence/ Intelligence team will come out with a plan (update only?) tomorrow RE: how to finish ISIL off.

Pompeo having been to Turkey may mean that Euphrates Shield will create something permanent South of the border, and not just the Turkish protectorate. The Kurdish question involves the governments of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria, which have different positions on Kurdish autonomy (and some rather different relations with the CIA), so to avoid Iran and Turkey clashing head-on perhaps the East and West of Euphrates (as a demarcation line) will see some limited self autonomy options for the Kurds popping up as well. After all, in Iraq they are a de facto state already, with own international air connections and the like.

The Assad regime seems to be more interested in consolidating their gains in the immediate borderlands of their Shia dominated areas, and they resisted the option favoured by Russians - to push straight out to the East from Palmyra and cut ISIL in two. So, two Shia cantons (one for Hezbollah, de facto extending into Lebanon and one further North, form Damascos to the coast).
- Iran will run out of options on the ground if Russian air cover is withdrawn; so far the deconflicting has worked in such a way as to provide that without a shot (A2A) being fired... Turkish airspace not included

[xav]

ADIK Shipyard to Deliver New Landing Ship Tank LST-class TCG Bayraktar to Turkish Navy

ADIK Shipyard will deliver the first ship of a new class of landing ships (LST), TCG Bayraktar, this month following successful trials. Navy Recognition learned this information from a company representative during NAVDEX 2017, the international naval defense exhibition held from 19th to 23rd February in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

10 pictures of the LST -> http://www.navyrecognition.com/index.ph ... -navy.html

[erlenmayer]

Turkish Navy(Deniz Yıldızı Exercise)

[xav]

IDEF 2017 in Turkey


In this video, coverage of:
- Istanbul I-class Frigate
- Aselsan CAFRAD radar for TF2000
- Aselsan HIZIR-LFAS towed sonar
- Aselsan ORKA Torpedo
- Aselsan ZARGANA decoy launcher for submarine
- Aselsan Albatros-T USV target boat
- Aselsan PIRI IRST
- Aselsan STAMP-2 RWS
- Aselsan TUFAN rail gun
- TAIS / SEDEF Shipyard LHD for Turkish Navy
- STM TF-4500 Frigate
- STM Fast Attack Craft FAC 55
- ARES Shipyard ARES 100 SAT special operations boat

[ArmChairCivvy]

This would seem like a new kind of approach to breach-loading mortars (saves on the expensive turret):

https://www.google.be/search?q=ASELSAN+ ... Dd3cm-XZRM:

[Timmymagic]

- Aselsan TUFAN rail gun

Do Aselsan have bottomless chests of cash or is this vapourware? For the life of me I can't figure out how much of the recent Turkish kit is actually credible.

[Frenchie]

This would seem like a new kind of approach to breach-loading mortars (saves on the expensive turret):

https://www.google.be/search?q=ASELSAN+ ... Dd3cm-XZRM:

The Turks do not invent nothing, this is french material, the VBMR Griffon will be equipped with this mortar for the version mortar carrier.

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product1849.html

[ArmChairCivvy]

Thanks for the vid, so there seems to be a loading aid to help with the ROF (and somewhat separate the muzzle blast from the level at which the crews' heads -ears! - are)
- not so easy with vehicle mounted conventional mortars

[ArmChairCivvy]

The Finance Minister Nihat Zeybekcin is not allowed to attend the 1st anniversary of the attempted Turkish coup in Austria, nor is the Deputy Prime Minister Tugrul Türkesia in the Netherlands
- who wants an other street war a la Hamburg, when the Turks might differ amongst themselves on the "topic", but only one opinion is allowed in their own country

[dmereifield]

http://www.janes.com/article/76200/turk ... -are-ready

Turkey are looking to buy an known number of AV-8B from the US. Apparently they approached us first, do we have any remaining? I thought we sold them all to the USMC, baring a few non operational airframes for deck handling training etc?

[Little J]

Can't really imagine what use the Harrier would be? If they already had a few in service and wanted to bump up their fleet fair enough, but the differences between the two are that great (from flying ability to maintenance), I just can't see the point.

[ArmChairCivvy]

May be the Turks (read: Erdo) have been told the see their erring ways... or else, no F-35s of any flavour
- after all they are building their assault "carrier"
- just wondering who they are planning to assault with it

[RetroSicotte]

Almost certainly for familiarity training for carrier ops, similar to how we use de-rated Harriers in Yeovilton for deck crew training.

[abc123]

May be the Turks (read: Erdo) have been told the see their erring ways... or else, no F-35s of any flavour
- after all they are building their assault "carrier"
- just wondering who they are planning to assault with it

When your goal is New Ottoman Empire, then the list of candidates is pretty long...

[Lord Jim]

Lots of islands currently flying the Greek flag.

[abc123]

Lots of islands currently flying the Greek flag.

For THAT they really don't need such ship. but I think that Sulta/errPresident has a bit more ambition than that...

[Defiance]

Wouldn't be surprised if he's been swept up in the sweeping grandiose statements about naval air and thought 'I want me some of that'. . .

Seems a bit bonkers.

[ArmChairCivvy]

I find this piece from the BBC (of today) a bit odd as Turkey is competing with German firms for Leopard2 upgrade deals:
"The German government is facing calls to halt arms exports to Turkey after reports emerged that German-made Leopard tanks were being used in an offensive against the Kurdish YPG.

Some German politicians have requested that any moves to approve a tank upgrade deal be halted.

Turkish-led forces began an assault in Syria's north-west on Saturday.

The row comes just weeks after the two countries' foreign ministers vowed to improve bilateral ties.

Relations between the two Nato members have soured dramatically in recent years.

Reports on Friday suggested Berlin was moving to approve a request from Turkey for German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall to upgrade its Leopard 2 tanks, to make them less vulnerable to explosives.

The tanks are thought to have been used by Turkey against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. However, defence experts have claimed in German media that recent images from Turkey's "Operation Olive Branch" appear to show them being used against Kurdish groups."

Presumably key components still come from Germany, even if they are put together differently for upgrades (which, in fact, include better protection while lessening the weight).

[Lord Jim]

Relations between all NATO members and Turkey have gone south. Their idea of playing NATO off against Russia could come back to bite them. At some point the need to retain that airbase is going to be outweighed but Turkey's attitude and behaviour.

[xav]

Keel Laying of Future Turkish Navy LHD TCG Anadolu

Spanish shipyard Navantia announced today that the keel of the future Turkish Navy Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) has been laid at the Turkish shipyard of SEDEF (a member of TAIS Shipyards) in Tuzla, Istanbul. The vessel, which will be named TCG Anadolu, is based on Navantia's Juan Carlos I vessel already commissioned with the Spanish and Australian navies.

https://www.navyrecognition.com/index.p ... adolu.html

[ArmChairCivvy]

Smart radar, Siemens engines, and it was also "declared during the first steel cut ceremony that "TCG Anadolu will be the first ship in the navy from which F-35B SVTOL planes will operate".
- I wonder if there will be better managed relationships with the NATO partners, esp. since only a few days ago there was this declaration of readiness to fire on US troops within Syria?

[Lord Jim]

This ship could take a very long time to build if Turkey keeps upsetting its NATO partners, who are providing many of the key systems. Of course the US could also supply Greece with a SAM system like MEADS to place on the many islands near Turkey, or at least mention the possibility, or threaten to kick the country out of NATO unless the madman in charge is got rid of. How can the West object to the regimes in countries like Iran and yet accept Turkey simply because of an Air Base. NATO should end and the Greek/Turkish border.

[abc123]

This ship could take a very long time to build if Turkey keeps upsetting its NATO partners, who are providing many of the key systems. Of course the US could also supply Greece with a SAM system like MEADS to place on the many islands near Turkey, or at least mention the possibility, or threaten to kick the country out of NATO unless the madman in charge is got rid of. How can the West object to the regimes in countries like Iran and yet accept Turkey simply because of an Air Base. NATO should end and the Greek/Turkish border.

Agreed. But, on the other hand, the importance of Turkey is much more than just Incirlik.

[seaspear]

Turkey in N.A.T.O may not follow the ideals of that membership but if excluded may look elsewhere certainly Putin would welcome it as President Johnson put it when asked about the choice of a cabinet member said it was better to have them pissing out of the window than for them outside to be pissing in lol

[abc123]

Turkey in N.A.T.O may not follow the ideals of that membership but if excluded may look elsewhere certainly Putin would welcome it as President Johnson put it when asked about the choice of a cabinet member said it was better to have them pissing out of the window than for them outside to be pissing in lol

Plus, Turkey in NATO is relativly moderate Muslim country ( at least in comparison with their neighbours ), Turkey out of NATO is, who knows what? A new Sultanate/Caliphate, just better armed? If NATO has any problems with democracy in Turkey, Russia will have no problems whatsoever. Also, Turkey in NATO, brings US forces on borders of Georgia, Armenia and Iran from the west. Turkey out of NATO, not so.

And finally, politics is led by reason, not by emotions. Because if led by emotions, I would be first for to kick them out of NATO and build a new Berlin Wall on their border with Greece/Bulgaria.