Nations in Focus: Greece MT 2/2023 · 35 the DIMDEG project, which consists of the construction of a 26,000t replenishment vessel christened Derya by the Turkish Navy. The MILGEM project also includes the development of indigenous solutions to replace foreign equipment, sensors, and weapons, thus boosting Turkey’s strategic independence from the U.S. and European suppliers. For instance, Turkish defence industry is working on new radars (e.g., ASELSAN Cafrad X-band multifunction AESA radar), long-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems (e.g., ASELSAN/ROCKETSAN Siper), anti-ship missiles (ROCKETSAN Atmaca, torpedo countermeasures systems (ASELSAN Hizir) Combat Management Systems (HAVELSAN Advent/Genesis), and Electronic Support Measures (ESM) suites (ASELSAN Ares-2NC). After the termination of the F-35 programme for Turkey, the Air Force is betting on next-generation fighter aircraft – the TF-X. The aircraft is scheduled to conduct its maiden flight in 2026 and to enter Turkish service in 2029, according to official information. As reported by Mönch Online, TUSAS officials said that a first prototype of TF-X is scheduled to be rolled out in 2023, with the maiden flight set for 2025, and induction into the Turkish Air Force expected four years later. The multirole fighter is expected to be powered by two nationally built afterburning turbofans, enabling a top speed of Mach 1.8 at 40,000ft. The aircraft, which will have a wingspan of 14m and a service ceiling of 55,000ft, is intended to replace Turkey’s F-16 fleet in the air superiority role. Further programmes are underway for the replacement of legacy fleets of T-41s and TF-260Ds basic trainers with 52-100 PAC MFI-17 Super Mushshak and 15 TAI Hürkus-B (plus 40 options). Moreover, a dedicated programme has been launched to replace ageing T-38s with a national product. In the rotary wing sector, the main programme is the procurement of 109 TAI T-70 medium general utility helicopters. In the land sector, the Turkish Army pursues its constant effort to provide its large combat force with modern equipment. The centrepiece of industrial capabilities in the land sector is the Altay MBT, which should be procured in 250 examples, but the programme is being delayed by technical difficulties. Ageing M-114s towed howitzers and legacy self-propelled artilleries are to be replaced by 336 T-155 Firtina 155/52mm self-propelled howitzers (derived from South Korean K9) and 138 MKEK Panter 155/52 towed howitzers. The Turkish Army is also accepting deliveries of a total of 260 new-generation missile tank destroyers including 184 wheeled weapon carriers based on FNSS Pars 4X4 and 76 tracked weapon carriers based on FNSS Kaplan design. Vehicles can mount either Russian-built should be shared among the entire population of the island of Cyprus, which implies a resolution of the conflict between the RC and the TRNC. Turkish activities in the area such as Oruc Reis seismic surveys, Yavuz vessel drilling activities, the attempt of establishing a Tukey-Libya maritime deal, etc. are part of the same strategy to have a say on exploitation of resources. Furthermore, the issue falls in a period when Turkey is implementing the so called “Blue Homeland” (Mavi Vatan) approach to its foreign and defence politics. Albeit Turkey intends to remain a NATO country, a growing number of Turkish politicians and high-ranking military officials perceive the U.S. as a threat to Turkey’s best interest. The country has several ambitions in the Aegean Sea as well as in Asia and Middle East. U.S. support to some Kurdish parties/groups, the embargo on TRNC, U.S. Navy’s increasing presence in Crete and Alexandropoulos, are read as signs of loosening ties. Summing up, Turkey feels increasingly isolated and threatened across all its maritime areas of interest. Therefore, Ankara has triggered a naval build up intended to directly defend Turkish interest in East Mediterranean, Black Sea, and Red Sea. For example, in August 2022, Turkey‘s newest drillship, Abdulhamid Han, reopened hostilities in the Eastern Mediterranean with its new series of exploration of potential gas resources off Cyprus. To underline Turkish resolution, the Turkish Navy sent four ships to the TRNC, including the Type-209 submarine Burakreis, the Giresun frigate, the Bayraktar landing ship, and the TCG Sokollu Mehmet Pasha training ship. Turkey has never signed the 1982 Montego Bay Convention. For Turkey, the 1923 Lausanne Treaty should therefore apply, according to which the Aegean Sea is open to its two riparian countries, Greece and Turkey. Similarly, this provision should, according to Turkey, allow each country to freely dispose of the waters of the Aegean and its resources. This particularly tense situation is not about to cool down. The three countries involved in the Aegean dispute - Turkey, Greece and Cyprus, all have major electoral deadlines in 2023. While Greece will hold legislative elections, Turkey and Cyprus will elect their President of the Republic, the real head of the executive in these two presidential regimes. Nationalist, warmongering, militaristic and security-oriented rhetoric will flourish around the Aegean, especially in Turkey, where Erdogan is losing popular support. For what concerns Turkey-Greece relations, Turkey hardly criticises the EU’s and European countries’ posture, which would favour Greek interest only. Turkey criticizes the current law of the sea, and it promotes a new approach to maritime jurisdiction based on multilateral agreements. Hence, the well-known MILGEM naval shipbuilding project underpins the “Blue Homeland” strategy and will allow for direct intervention in East Mediterranean. MILGEM includes main naval programmes such as Anadolu-class amphibious ships (first-of-class delivered in March 2023), ADA-class corvettes (all delivered, a fifth one recently built by STM and Okean for the Ukrainian navy), Istanbul-class frigates (first-of-class to be commissioned this year, the other three by 2026), and TF-2000 class 8,500t destroyers (currently under study, four to six vessels planned). Ships are built in Turkey at Istanbul Naval Shipyard, Gölcük Naval Shipyard, STM, TAIS, SEDEF, and Sefine. The latter has been awarded the contract for g Turkish mechanized troops during exercise. In the picture, FNSS ACVs on the move. Turkey is gradually replacing its older vehicles. (Photo: Turkish Army) Israel Navy Shaldag-class patrol boat #837 makes targeted strikes on Gaza from the Mediterranean Sea. Proximity of gas facilities to Gaza are source of concern for the IDF. (Photo: IDF) f ¸ ¸
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