Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program: One step forward, two steps backward?

• Published in: International journal (Toronto) Vol. 68; no. 1; pp. 111 - 129
• Main Authors: Guvenc, Serhat, Yanik, Lerna K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Canadian International Council 22.12.2012; SAGE Publications; Sage Publications Ltd. (UK); Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Air forces; Air Transportation; Aircraft; Aircraft design; Aircraft industry; Armed Forces; Collaboration; Contracts; Costs; Defense industries; Defense industry; Defense programs; Defense spending; Fighter planes; Foreign affairs; Government purchasing; History; Industry; International aspects; International studies; Jet aircraft; Jet fighters; Military; Military aircraft; Military sales; Parliaments; Participation; Political aspects; Purchasing; Turkey; Warfare; Turkey; United States > US
• ISSN: 0020-7020; 2052-465X
• DOI: 10.1177/002070201306800108

This article unfolds in three sections. In the first section, we give a brief history of military aviation in Turkey, including Turkey's efforts to develop an indigenous aircraft industry; in order to understand Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program, it is crucial to understand Turkey's desire to build a fully indigenous combat aircraft. Second, we give a timeline of Turkey's inclusion in the F-35 program and discuss the motives and goals behind Turkey's involvement in the JSF. Finally, we address the ebbs and flows in the Turkish approach to the entire JSF program in parallel to the rapidly changing international context, the cost overruns, and the extent of work-share secured for Turkish industries. Adapted from the source document.