Hakan Kılıç is a Turkish aerospace/defense expert who really gets into the technical details many do not have a grasp of and avoids nationalistic banter. Recommend translating the thread, I will summarize some of what he is saying in addition to my thoughts.
Turkish Air Force today has carried out coordinated electronic and network warfare of the likes which not only (tbh surprising to me) shows that the post-2016 capability loss has been exaggerated and should be of deterrence to regional militaries.
Without giving precise distances for nat sec reasons, he describes a triad of force multipliers which made today's operation possible. Aselsan Koral (ground) and C-160 (air) platforms performing electronic warfare attacks on the Su-24's radar and shot from close range by the F-16
The third is the E-7T (Boeing 737 AEW&C) early warning aircraft, featuring a long-range radar and ELINT capabilities you simply cannot have on a fighter aircraft. The F-16 had its radar turned off (helps avoid detection) and the E-7T used datalinks to guide the AIM-120 fired
This type of aerial operation is not one which is done simply and should frankly be a deterrent to none other than the Russian Federation.
RuAF's primary air-to-air platform in Syria is the Su-35. While it's a heavier fighter with a more powerful radar than Turkey's F-16's..
RuAF's primary air-to-air platform in Syria is the Su-35. While it's a heavier fighter with a more powerful radar than Turkey's F-16's..
... it simply does not have this sort of networking and electronic warfare support available to it. Russia's deployment to Syria is relatively light and Russia does not make extensive use of these types of force multipliers to begin with.
After absorbing heavy casualties, looking weak and indecisive, the Turkish Armed Forces are re-creating their regional deterrence. Not only is this critical for preventing attacks from Russia, Assad, or random militias.
It's proving to NATO that Turkey is still a capable ally
It's proving to NATO that Turkey is still a capable ally
Helping a weak and overstretched ally confront Russia sounds like risking Western lives for not much gain.
Tipping the balance when Turkey already looks lethal on it's own? I think that's a pitch that the Foreign/Defense Ministries can make to allies if they do their homework
Tipping the balance when Turkey already looks lethal on it's own? I think that's a pitch that the Foreign/Defense Ministries can make to allies if they do their homework
