Summary of Turkish Procurement for comparison purposes....

[Cdn Blackshirt]

See Link:   http://www.fas.org/asmp/library/reports/turkeyapp.htm

Weapons systems that they operate that either are superior to our own, or we do not possess at all:

F-16 Block 50 with AMRAAM
KC-135 for Air-to-Air Refueling
A-10 Close Support Aircraft
AH-1 Cobra Attack Helicopters
S-70B Seahawk ASW/ASuW Helicopters (note purchase price of $30 million per unit)
MLRS with ATAMCS Rounds
FIREFINDER Radar Sets

On their Horizon (in progress):

MBT Upgrades - M60A3 to Sabra Mk II standards
New Utility Helicopters - S-60 Blackhawks (note purchase price of $10 million per unit)
New ASW/ASuW Helicopters - More S-70B Seahawks (purchase price of $40 million per unit)
New Heavy Lift Helicopters - Multiple Candidates
New AEW Aircraft - Boeing 737's (likely similar to Australia's purchase)
New UAV's: Multiple contenders
New Maritime Patrol Aircraft:   Avionics package for already acquired C-295's
New Strategic Lift - Airbus A400M program (they're buying 10 of them!!!)
New MBT's - (believe this project is on hold)
New Air Superiority Fighter - Likely F-15E
New Attack Helicopters - Multiple Candidates (believe this one is on hold too)

Bottom Line:   I thought the comparison put into sharp focus the failure of our politicians and NDHQ
in that they have allowed our relative military power in comparison to the other nations of the world
to diminish so greatly that our diplomatic opinions and views are nothing more than an afterthought
once the real decisions have been made by others.

Comments wanted....



Matthew.  

 

[big_castor]

Turkey was once on the front line of the Cold War, it's now the forward base in the War against Terror, hence the large amount of transfer of US equipment and technology (how many countries got FREE Perry class frigates and M-1 tanks ?)

How many of those deals are being reconsidered because of their financial situation and how many deal are conditional to the improvement of the humans rights situation ?

There are numerous references to the Kurdish uprising, so their internal situation is much different then ours.

that our diplomatic opinions and views are nothing more than an afterthought once the real decisions have been made by others.

If (and only if) Turkey get's more consideration in international affaire, it's probably more due to it's geo strategical position then it's military power.

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

Also how much does Turkey give out in Health care or Foreign aid probably nowhere's near what we give out. You also have to remember that they view Greece as a threat and have a military to counter that threat.

 

[Sundborg]

They are in the middle of a war zone; if I was there, I would want my country to have the best fire power possible.  Canada isn't under any threat at the moment except terrorism.  If the USA were an enemy to us, I'm sure we would have top of the line equipment aswell.