Türkiye Advances Defence Capabilities Amid Renewed F-35 Discussions with the U.S.
Ankara, The Gulf Observer: Turkish Defence Minister Yaşar Güler has announced that the United States has reconsidered its stance on the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye, following significant progress in Ankara’s development of its domestically produced KAAN fighter jet.
Speaking to the Turkish Parliament’s Planning and Budget Commission on Tuesday, Güler remarked, “When the Americans saw that we could build and fly the KAAN, they changed their minds a bit about the F-35.” Despite this shift, he noted that no tangible progress has been made. “We insist on reclaiming our production share and maintain our request to acquire F-35s,” Güler added, emphasizing Türkiye’s commitment to the program.
Modernizing Türkiye’s Air Force
As Türkiye prepares for the operational deployment of the KAAN and the light combat aircraft HÜRJET, Güler outlined initiatives to strengthen the Air Force. He confirmed a $1.4 billion payment for the procurement of 40 U.S. F-16 Block 70 Viper jets and plans to modernize 79 older F-16s at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) facilities.
Discussions regarding the procurement of Eurofighter Typhoon jets also continue, with Germany granting the necessary permissions for the transaction.
TAI plans to deliver the KAAN, Türkiye’s first indigenous fighter jet, to the air force within five years, underscoring the nation’s ambitions to become self-reliant in defense manufacturing.
Operational Readiness of S-400 Systems
Güler reaffirmed the readiness of Türkiye’s S-400 missile defense systems, procured from Russia, highlighting their strategic importance. “These systems are deployment-ready and operational within 12 hours if needed,” he stated, adding that they would only be used in cases of extreme danger.
He explained that Türkiye turned to Russia after other nations failed to respond positively to Ankara’s requests for similar systems.
Progress in Domestic Air Defence Systems
Güler also provided updates on Türkiye’s domestic air defense initiatives. The SIPER 1 long-range surface-to-air missile system has been delivered with a range of 100 kilometers, and subsequent iterations are in development. “To ensure comprehensive air defense for our country, we will require multiple Steel Domes, and these are already in production,” he stated.
These developments reflect Türkiye’s focus on bolstering its defense capabilities through a combination of strategic acquisitions and the advancement of indigenous technologies. The renewed discussions with the U.S. on F-35 fighter jets mark a potential shift in relations, while Türkiye continues its pursuit of military modernization and self-sufficiency.
