Turkiye finalizes $23 billion deal with US to buy F-16 fighter jets

Middle East, News, US June 14, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

In a major step towards bolstering its air defense capabilities Turkey finalized the highly anticipated $23 billion contract to procure F-16 fighter jets from the United States. The Defense Ministry of Turkey confirmed the completion of the contract on June 13, 2024, emphasizing ongoing negotiations to finalize the finer details of the deal.

“The contract has been signed, and delegations from both sides are negotiating the details,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The acquisition, which includes 40 new F-16 aircraft and 79 modernization kits, marks a pivotal development in Turkey’s efforts to upgrade its aging fleet of F-16s, which are set to be phased out starting in the 2030s.

The decision to proceed with the F-16 purchase comes after Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program in 2019 due to its acquisition of Russian S-400 missile defense systems, which Washington argued could compromise the security features of the advanced fighter jets. The Biden administration had conditioned its endorsement of the agreement to supply F-16 warplanes to Turkey if Ankara approved Sweden’s bid to join NATO.

“The sale of these advanced F-16s underscores the enduring commitment of the United States to our security partnership with Turkey,” remarked the U.S. State Department in a social media post. The U.S. ambassador to Ankara Jeffrey Flake echoed these sentiments, describing the deal as beneficial for both U.S. and Turkish national security, as well as for NATO cohesion.

*^{Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off on a sortie from an air base during Exercise Anatolian Eagle, in Konya, Turkey. (Image Credit: Turkish Ministry of Defense/DailySabah)}*

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is scheduled to attend the upcoming NATO leaders’ summit in Washington next month. Previously, plans for a meeting with his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, were in place last month; however, their anticipated first White House encounter was postponed due to scheduling conflicts.

The NATO summit in the coming month provides a potential occasion for Erdogan and Biden to meet, as expressed by Flake, who is expected to step down from his position this autumn. He mentioned on Wednesday that there appears to be mutual interest in such a meeting from both sides.

Turkey’s pursuit of the F-16s also aligns with its broader defense strategy, which includes the development of its indigenous fifth-generation combat aircraft, the Kaan. This initiative, marked by the Kaan’s successful maiden flight earlier this year, underscores Turkey’s ambition to bolster its aerospace industry and reduce dependency on foreign defense suppliers.

*^{Turkish Air Force F-16 Fighter Jets participating in Anatolian Eagle Exercise. (Image Credit: Hurriyet)}*

In a strategic move, the U.S. has also approved a similar request for a NATO ally and Turkey’s regional rival, Greece. The U.S. State Department approved an $8.6 billion deal for Athens for 40 F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters and related equipment. Initially, Athens had objected to the sale of F-16 jets to Turkey because of lingering territorial disputes in the energy-abundant Mediterranean area.