Turkey has scaled back its $23 billion F-16 fighter jet acquisition from the United States, choosing to forgo the purchase of 79 modernization kits for its existing fleet. Defense Minister Yaşar Güler announced the decision to lawmakers in Ankara on Tuesday.
The updated deal retains the purchase of 40 new F-16 Block 70 Viper jets at a cost of $7 billion, of which Turkey has already paid $1.4 billion, Güler informed the parliamentary hearing.
“We gave up on the 79,” Guler explained. “This is why: Our Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) facilities are capable of carrying out this modernization on their own, so we deferred to them,” he added, referring to Ankara’s state-owned defense company.
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The F-16 deal, approved earlier this year, follows years of strained US-Turkey relations and reflects the broader geopolitical entanglements between the two nations.
A NATO member since 1952, Turkey delayed ratifying Sweden’s NATO membership for months, citing alleged leniency toward Kurdish groups. The move frustrated allies in Washington and Brussels seeking to strengthen the alliance after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Turkey ultimately approved Sweden’s NATO membership after securing the F-16 jet deal.
Turkey is one of the largest operators of Lockheed Martin’s F-16 globally, though much of its fleet consists of aging models. Ankara has also shown interest in rejoining the advanced F-35 stealth fighter program, from which it was removed after purchasing Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
TUSAS has developed the Turkish-made KAAN, a fifth-generation multirole fighter jet, which is expected to make its maiden flight soon.