Turkey has given a further hint of its intention to acquire 30 additional Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon multi-role jet fighters as part of the air force's modernisation programme.
"We will purchase 30 F-16s by 2011. We are still trying to find the funds but I don’t think that will be a problem," Turkish air force chief Gen Faruk Comert said during a Victory Day celebration, marking Turkey’s war of independence.
The air force now appears to be closer to rejecting a planned $500 million upgrade to another 48 of its McDonnell Douglas F-4Es, placing an orde for F-16s instead. Ankara has already received 240 F-16s and was reported earlier this year to be planning to invest $10 billion on 100 new fighter aircraft.
"We will purchase 30 F-16s by 2011. We are still trying to find the funds but I don’t think that will be a problem," Turkish air force chief Gen Faruk Comert said during a Victory Day celebration, marking Turkey’s war of independence.
The air force now appears to be closer to rejecting a planned $500 million upgrade to another 48 of its McDonnell Douglas F-4Es, placing an orde for F-16s instead. Ankara has already received 240 F-16s and was reported earlier this year to be planning to invest $10 billion on 100 new fighter aircraft.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
