Turkey's Path Ahead for Integration of Western Technology into Russian-Built Combat Aircraft

In military aviation, the concepts of "Western Technologies" and "Eastern Technologies", which were formulated especially during the Cold War and became clearer with the NATO influence, were indicators of who and how much the technologies on jet fighters represented.

The strong and well-established Western technology players and practitioners in jet fighter aircraft were the USA, the UK, France, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Israel. In the period after the Cold War until today, we also include South Korea, Japan and Turkey in this group. The practitioners of Eastern technologies were the USSR and China. 

In order to modernize the structural and especially the avionics and weapon systems of the aircraft in use so that these aircraft can be used effectively and economically for longer periods of time, Israel has developed itself very much and has come to the forefront with the F-4 Kurnass 2000 (Israel), F-4 2020 Terminator (Turkey), F-5 2020 (Turkey), MiG-21 2000 (Romania) modernization projects and has captured a serious customer potential. However, in cases where it was too prominent, it was blocked in many projects because it harmed the interests of the American arms industry.

After the collapse of the USSR, some of the countries that left the pact became members of both the EU and NATO.  Some of them are still using Russian systems, while others have switched to Western and especially American systems.

Almost all of the countries that broke away from the USSR, with the exception of Poland, do not devote intensive efforts and resources to Westernizing their weapon systems. They are focusing on economic development and do not want to increase their defense expenditures. In this situation, even though some of them are NATO members, they still retain their weapons systems from the USSR and prefer to modernize them with Western systems.

For example, Romania had its USSR MiG-21s modernized by Israeli companies (IAI & Elbit) and used them effectively for years. It has now decommissioned and replaced them with 12 out-of-service F-16A/B MLUs from the Portuguese Air Force and has also acquired 32 out-of-service F-16A/B MLUs from the Norwegian Air Force.

Bulgaria will replace its very small number of USSR MiG-29s and Su-25s with the new F-16V Block 70 fighters it has ordered. Bulgaria is even considering and discussing equipping its MiG-29s with western technology.

Turkey Modernizes Azerbaijan's Su-25s

According to information obtained from the Azerbaijani press, TAI, with the participation of ASELSAN and TÜBİTAK SAGE, is subjecting two Su-25M Frogfoots belonging to the Azerbaijani Air Force to a comprehensive avionics modernization at TAI facilities, using the experience and avionics suite gained in the F-16 ÖZGÜR Project, and giving the aircraft the ability to carry air-to-air, air-to-ground ammunition, data-link and pods (such as ASELPOD, EHPOD and EDPOD) produced by Turkish Defense and Aviation Industry companies. These two Su-25s are prototypes. After the test and evaluation phase of the integrated systems and ammunition is completed, all of the approximately 40 Su-25M Frogfoots in the Azerbaijan Air Force inventory will be modernized.

Su-25 and MiG-29 Modernization Potential Opportunity Package in the Turkic Republics

In Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan (Georgia can also be included in these countries), with which Turkey has close political, economic and military ties, there are potential markets and opportunities for about;

100 Su-25s and 100 MiG-29s that can be modernized with Western systems. 

What is the Western Systems Modernization Package that Turkey can offer for Su-25 and MiG-29 and possibly Su-27 & 30?

In line with MIL-STD-1760, which defines the Aircraft / Ammunition transport electrical connection system, there are two different options for the integration of KGK-82/83 Ammunition, which can be integrated into any aircraft in the service of NATO member countries (including the F-35) and the avionics on the aircraft via the NATO Universal Arms Interface (UAI), into the Su-25M Frogfoot Aircraft. The first of these is through the Aircraft Independent Firing System (UBAS), and the other is to equip the Su-25M with the national avionics suite developed within the scope of the F-16 ÖZGÜR Project, including the National Mission Computer. According to TUBITAK-SAGE, the UBAS software developed as a result of ground and airborne tests was successfully tested by using it in the KGK (Winged Guidance Kit) firing.

Friendly and brotherly countries can participate in Turkey's comprehensive modernization projects involving high technology, and partnership models can be developed for this purpose. The work with Azerbaijan on the modernization of Su-25M aircraft and the integration of smart weapon systems into the aircraft, primarily the integration of certain weapon systems on Su-25Ms and their modernization within the scope of the application of smart systems would be a very good and appropriate case study. 

F-16 Free Project Modernization Package is a Leading and Exemplary Project

Systems included in the F-16 Free Modernization Package:

Digital Cockpit, Color MFD, Digital Engine/Fuel/Hydraulic Gauges, Link-16, Digital Terrain System, Digital Map, Internal/External NVIS Compatibility, Instrument Approach/Landing, GPS Capability, ASELPOD, Reconnaissance Pod (DB-110), Mod-S and Interrogation, AESA Radar.

The systems that Turkey wants from this package can be integrated into the Russian Su-25 and MiG-29s of friendly and allied countries as a package. At the same time, since Turkish-made air-to-air and air-to-ground ammunition will also be fired from these aircraft, there is a serious economic market potential in terms of ammunition sales.

So, what kind of advantages will modernizing the Russian Su-25, MiG-29 and Su-27 aircraft with Western systems provide to these countries?

 It will be more advantageous in terms of maintenance dependency.

When you buy a Russian jet fighter, you know that you will use and maintain this system for about 50 years. During this fifty-year period, you have to maintain these systems with the support you will receive from Russia and perhaps to some extent from China, you have no other alternative. However, if there are western systems on your aircraft, you can get support from the USA, UK, France, Germany, Germany, Sweden, Israel, Italy, Sweden, Italy and Turkey to maintain these systems and replace them with new ones if necessary. In other words, you can distribute your maintenance and operation dependency on a single country to 8-10 countries.

 You will also increase the combat capability of your aircraft with more cost-effective and high performance systems.

 You will be able to transfer the technology of some systems to your own country.

 You will increase the adaptability of your personnel, who fly with these systems or keep these systems ready for flight, to western systems and other systems to be procured from the west, and shorten the adaptation process.