{"id":14562,"date":"2018-01-09T19:55:00","date_gmt":"2018-01-09T19:55:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/uncategorized\/2018\/01\/09\/turkey-wants-to-link-f-35-jets-to-its-air-force-network\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:58:04","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:58:04","slug":"turkey-wants-to-link-f-35-jets-to-its-air-force-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/c4isrnet\/it-networks\/2018\/01\/09\/turkey-wants-to-link-f-35-jets-to-its-air-force-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Turkey wants to link F-35 jets to its Air Force network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

ANKARA, Turkey \u2014Turkey\u2019s defense procurement agency has officially launched a competition to combine all information systems on the country\u2019s planned F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation multirole fighter jets to the Turkish Air Forces\u2019 system network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM in its Turkish acronym) dubs the program F-35\/Air Force Information System Integration Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the program, the successful contender will connect the information systems installed on the F-35 fighter aircraft with the Air Forces\u2019 information systems network, otherwise known as HvBS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe program involves safe connection of information systems elements between the F-35 aircraft and the Air Forces\u2019 information systems network as well as safe sharing of classified information between these systems,\u201d SSM said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SSM has asked bidders to suggest solutions by Feb. 28. SSM\u2019s department for cybersecurity and electronic warfare systems will be in charge of the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey is a partner in the U.S.-led, multinational Joint Strike Fighter program. Under the JSF program, Turkey has committed to procure a total of 116 aircraft. Turkey placed its first JSF order in 2014 under its low-rate initial production 10 program, and its second order in October 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey\u2019s procurement and military officials are hoping to build a new-generation, dual-fighter jet fleet by their country\u2019s centennial, 2023, comprising of the F-35 and an indigenous aircraft, known as TF-X, that Ankara has been designing under a know-how contract with BAE Systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry sources said the program to build critical links between the F-35 aircraft and Turkey\u2019s combined Air Force command network probably won\u2019t cost hundreds of millions of dollars, but it was tagged as \u201cstrategic\u201d by the procurement authority<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis program will test the technological capabilities of Turkey\u2019s local industry,\u201d a source said. \u201cThe political idea is to earn as much indigenous software space as possible while at the same time remaining within the [JSF] program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkish officials have said the idea behind the TF-X program is to build a fighter fleet independent of foreign technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\t