Yes, Turkey can build all of those without Pakistan and, I am saying this seriously. But if you listen to the words of TAI's chief there is a big elephant in the room which can't be ignored and Mr. Kotil talked about it i.e. "I don't have enough engineer in Turkey". This is what Pakistan brings to the table and that's why all this collaboration is done at academia level (With NUST not with PAC).
TAI has already Pakistani engineers which were educated in the UK and BAE Systems helps TAI to find engineers. also Turks living in Germany and Europe are real engineer potential for the TFX program
now TAI has around 5.000 engineers and need more 5.000 engineers. TAI recruits 1,000 engineers per year
Maybe Turkey approaching China via Pakistan. because China has been Pakistan's main strategic benefactor for decades helping Pakistan to build military projects and China already has two 5th gen Fighter Jet projects. China can help Pakistan-Turkey to develop 5th gen Fighter jet and other sophisticated military projects
Now, coming back to the topic at hand, Pakistan's cooperation with TAI on TFX is not going to be a platform level exercise rather cooperation is on sub-system level where TAI will get cheap but very capable minds and PAC will get fresh, advanced trained human resource in house with lots of opportunities to expand existing knowledge base in the country something many countries want but simply can't due to multiple reasons ranging from political to financial.
TAI wants to make the TFX as multi-national project like F-35 program .
TAI considered Pakistan,Malaysia,Azerbaijan.Bangladesh,Kazakhstan,Qatar as potential partners or buyers of the TFX
Turkey has TFX and Pakistan has AZM projects .Turkey sees Pakistan as brother country , strategic ally and potential partner .Turkey has invited Pakistan to participate in the development of the TFX program . Turkey invited Malaysia to join in co-development of the TF-X. Pakistan has Fighter Jet experience and Malaysia has industrial capabilities to produce composite material for the skin of the TFX
TFX development cycle is stretched to 2040 if everything in between then and now stay on schedule. But we know delays are inevitable in such complex projects. So we are talking about 2045-50 timelines for TFX flying in numbers and exported to PAF. Now, PAF's time of induction of 5th Gen fighter is not dependent on the completion of TFX or AZM.
Pakistan has plan to own its own 5th gen Fighter in 2045-50
but Turkey has its own agenda . TFX roll out in 2023 , firts flight in 2025 , delivery to TURAF in 2029 and real 5th gen combat capability in 2035
until 2035 , Turkey plan to develop turbofan engine for the TFX
Pakistan's economic and technological limitations, an indigenous project AZM of this magnitude is unlikely to see the light of day. Hence, the offer of cooperation from Turkey may turn out to be appealing to Pakistan
not only Fighter Jet , Turkey offers Pakistan to develop long range high altitude Air Defense System ... also Warships, Helicopters and UCAVs
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