ANKARA - Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said Thursday that the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) jets will be included in The Turkish Air Forces (TAF) as of 2010.
Parliamentary Comittee on Foreign Affairs convened Thursday to discuss a draft international agreement foreseeing Turkey to partake in the development and production of the JSF jets. Speaking at the meeting Minister Gonul said the 250 billion USD project (JSF) was the greatest project of the Turkish Defense Industry.
"Some of the F-4 and F-16 fighters constituting the strike force of the TAF, --which have successfully destroyed terrorist targets in a recent crossborder operation-- will conclude their lifespan technically and economically by 2010. In order not to create any gap and to maintain the balance of power in the region, the process of determining the next generation of jet fighters TAF will own as of 2010, began in the late 90`s," said Gonul.
Gonul said that with a strategic decision taken Turkey partook in the JSF project in 1999. The project is leaded by England and the U.S. with the participation of Italy, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, Canada and Australia.
(OZG-ULG)