Is the U.S. Ready to Deliver F-35 Jets to Turkey? Diplomatic Breakthrough on the Horizon

Turkey’s pursuit of the F-35 fighter jet from the United States, which had been blocked due to geopolitical tensions and the country’s procurement of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system, is now seeing a potential shift.

Recent reports suggest that the U.S. may reconsider supplying the F-35 to Turkey, provided certain conditions regarding defense acquisitions are met in the coming days.

Previously, the European Union approved the sale of Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey, intended to replace its aging fleet of F-16s and maintain readiness in case of emergencies.

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However, the F-35, one of the most advanced stealth fighter jets, remains highly sought after. It is designed to be nearly undetectable by radar and is equipped with state-of-the-art avionics, making it superior to many other fighter jets in service today.

Turkey had already purchased six F-35 aircraft from the U.S., but delivery was held up after Turkey’s decision to buy the Russian S-400 system, which caused the U.S. to suspend Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program.

In a recent statement, Turkish officials indicated that diplomatic progress with the U.S. might lead to the eventual delivery of the jets: “Now that they’ve seen our progress with KAAN, their stance seems to be shifting.

They’re indicating that they might be willing to deliver them. We’ve officially resubmitted our offer to buy the F-35.”

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This marks a potential turning point in Turkey’s long-standing efforts to acquire the F-35. Turkey joined the F-35 program in 2007 as one of the partner nations, alongside the U.S., UK, Italy, the Netherlands, and other NATO members.

At the time, Turkey had planned to purchase 100 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II aircraft. However, tensions over Turkey’s acquisition of the S-400 system in 2019 led to its removal from the program.

In response to this setback, Turkey has been focusing on modernizing its air force by developing its own fighter jets, such as the KAAN and HURJET. This demonstrates Turkey’s capability to handle adverse situations, even if it does not secure Western-made fighter jets.

The U.S. may be willing to deliver the F-35 jets to Turkey, provided ongoing diplomatic negotiations continue to progress.

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Turkey’s defense minister, Güler, commented on the situation, noting, “We already have six F-35s over there.” These jets, purchased before Turkey’s suspension from the program in 2021, have yet to be delivered due to the S-400 dispute.

It might be worth exploring whether Turkey would consider trading its S-400 systems for a potential acquisition of F-35s.

Before being removed from the F-35 program, Turkey was a leading participant, with plans to acquire 100 F-35As and involvement in the production of over 900 F-35 components for operators worldwide.

With Greece, Turkey’s long-time rival, now adding F-35s to its fleet alongside Rafales, Turkey is under pressure to modernize and strengthen its air force.

Fortunately, recent diplomatic efforts suggest that Turkey and the U.S. may be moving towards resolving their differences, potentially paving the way for the sale of F-35s to Turkey.