PakSword
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Finally, the Russian defense industry could be looking to make the Su-34 more attractive for export purposes. This modernization news comes amid ongoing rumors that Ankara is evaluating the Su-34 as a prospective procurement option after Turkey’s recent ejection from the F-35 program. Turkey’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has previously entertained the possibility of a Su-34 contract: “If the F-35s don’t work out, I will again have to procure the jets I need from elsewhere . . . There are (Russian) Su-34, Su-57 and others. I will absolutely meet my needs from somewhere until I can produce it myself,” he said in April of this year, months before the fallout from Turkey’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system. Cavusoglu’s comment was made in a rather offhand fashion, but-- as previously explained by The National Interest-- the Su-34 could turn out to be a cost-effective stopgap to satisfy Turkey’s air-to-ground needs while the Turkish defense industry begins serial production of their homegrown “TF-X” fifth generation fighter.
[Source]