Turkey’s Minister of National Defense, Yaşar Güler, shared some important updates during a speech at the Planning and Budget Committee. He announced the country’s renewed efforts to acquire F-35 fighter jets from the United States.
“We already have six F-35s there,” he said, referring to the planes Turkey had purchased but never received due to the suspension of the program. “Now, seeing our progress with KAAN, their position seems to be changing. They are suggesting that they might be ready to deliver them. We have officially re-submitted our proposal to purchase the F-35.”
Earlier, Turkey had planned to acquire 100 Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter jets with conventional takeoff and landing capabilities, similar to those used by the U.S. Air Force.
On May 10, 2018, the first F-35A aircraft intended for the Turkish Air Force made its maiden flight at Lockheed Martin’s airbase, piloted by a U.S. Navy pilot. Shortly after, a Turkish pilot took the controls for the first time. However, several U.S. congressmen called for the administration to halt Turkey’s F-35 purchase due to Turkey’s decision to acquire Russian S-400 air defense systems. The congressmen expressed concerns that the deal would allow Moscow access to critical components.
Ultimately, the U.S. removed Turkey from the F-35 program in July 2019. To address the shortage of aircraft, Turkey sought to purchase more F-16s and expressed interest in the Eurofighter Typhoon. However, in January 2024, Acting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland, during a visit to Turkey, mentioned the possibility of Turkey joining the Joint Strike Fighter program. Following Turkey’s approval of Sweden’s NATO membership, Nuland visited Ankara to “revitalize bilateral relations” and stated:
“If the S-400 issue is resolved, sanctions will be lifted, and we will discuss Turkey’s return to the F-35 program. If we can resolve the S-400 issue, and we want to do so, the U.S. would be happy to welcome Turkey back into the F-35 family.”
Yaşar Güler also confirmed that Turkey has made the first payment for the Block 70 purchase agreement and plans to acquire 40 F-16 fighter jets. The deal was finally approved after Turkey supported Sweden’s NATO membership. The minister emphasized that the country is strengthening its defense capabilities and hinted at a potential shift in the U.S. stance on the F-35 program due to Turkey’s progress in the KAAN fighter program.
The Turkish defense industry has demonstrated expertise in various fields, but developing a domestically produced fifth-generation fighter jet is a unique and complex challenge. In the long term, these aircraft are expected to replace Turkey’s F-16 fleet. The first model of the jet, unveiled in 2019, bears a striking resemblance to the F-22 Raptor and F-35. The KAAN was designed to integrate seamlessly with the existing assets of the Turkish Air Force. While detailed specifications of the fighter are limited, it is expected to achieve a maximum speed of Mach 1.8, reach an altitude of 55,000 feet, and be equipped with two F110-GE129 engines, similar to those used in the F-16C Block 50.
Source: theaviationist
