The Americans arranged for the Turkish Air Force to resemble that of Iran after the break in relations between the two countries following the 1979 revolution.
Turkish McDonnell Douglas F-4E Phantom IIs have been flying for nearly five decades, a long lifespan for some of the last of the third-generation frontline fighters.
Reports indicate that the Turkish 111 Squadron of the Turkish Air Force now has only 15 F-4E Terminator 2020 bombers in service, but of these only nine are operational in January 2024.
Two of them bombed PKK positions in Iraq last night.
Each dropped two GBU-31 JDAM bombs. The aircraft had Israeli-made Elta ELL-8222 ECM external fuel tanks with 600-gallon Elta ELL-8222 ECM pods each.
Greece, Iran, Turkey and South Korea are the world's latest operators of the legendary F-4E Phantom II, among which Iran with about 50 of them is still the largest user while Greece is in second place with 18 aircraft as of January 2024.
Huge problem in the Turkish Air Force
Turkey is embarking on questionable extensive upgrades to its fleet of F-16 fighter jets, the backbone of its air force.
Such efforts are undoubtedly necessary because Ankara is unlikely to procure fifth-generation replacements for much longer.
However, it seems that absolute necessity and severe supply shortages could leave Turkey with little choice but to retain these fighters for much longer than planned.
The non-acquisition of the American F-16 BLOCK-70 by Turkey is extremely critical for air dominance in the Aegean.
The Greek Air Force, thanks to its F-16 Viper and RAFALE fighters and its excellent pilots, dominates the Aegean and Eastern Mediterranean at this stage against the aging Turkish Air Force.
This has prompted the Turks to undertake a domestic upgrade of their F-16s with the OZGUR program, while intensifying their efforts to acquire from the US, 40 F-16 BLOCK 70 and 80 modernization kits for an equal number of their F-16 fighters.
In addition to the above Turkey is making a plethora of UCAV , USV, drone mamikazi to change the balance of power against Turkey in the Aegean.
If Turkey starts mass production of its unmanned fighter "Kızılelma" in 2024 in conjunction with the production of the TB-3 BAYRKAR which is also expected to start between 2024-2025 and does not proceed with the acquisition of 40 F-16 BLOCK70 from the US by then, its air dominance in the Aegean will be gradually put in doubt until 2028, when the delivery of the F-35 from the US will start.
This will be due to the mixing of its fighter aircraft with its Kızılelma drones and other drones, which will take over all kinds of missions that the Greek Air Force performs on its own.
Be that as it may, the US embargo on spare parts for the Turkish Air Force, combined with Ankara's great need for a show of force in Iraq, Libya and Syria have angered the Erdogan regime, which has its hands tied, perhaps for the first time since 1974.
