Turkey intends to request the acquisition of the F-35

Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has announced plans to request Washington to reconsider its position on the Turkish F-35 jets, asking for the delivery of six F-35s already produced for Turkey but withheld in the United States. This change in stance is framed as a response to Turkey’s progress in developing the KAAN, a fifth-generation fighter jet.

NEW: Turkish Defense Minister Güler:

We currently have six F-35 jets in the United States.

Now that they see we have developed the KAAN, their stance has shifted, and they’re expressing willingness to deliver them.

We have resubmitted our proposal to acquire the F-35s. pic.twitter.com/nPySKEI9TA

— Clash Report (@clashreport) November 26, 2024

Turkey was removed from the F-35 program in 2019 after its acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system raised significant security concerns among NATO allies. The U.S. argued that integrating the S-400 could expose sensitive F-35 data to Russian intelligence, thereby compromising the technological edge of the aircraft.

Despite U.S. proposals, such as transferring control of the S-400 to a U.S.-controlled base, Turkey refused to relinquish its control over the system. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also reiterated that the sale or transfer of the S-400 without Moscow’s consent would violate the 2017 end-user agreement.

Meanwhile, the KAAN represents a significant advancement for Turkey’s aviation industry. Although it lags behind the F-35 in terms of stealth and NATO interoperability, the KAAN incorporates advanced technologies like AESA radar and internal weapons systems. This initiative underlines Turkey’s ambition to develop independent defense capabilities, partially as an alternative to its exclusion from the F-35 program.

If the U.S. changes its stance, it could improve relations between the two countries and offer Turkey a renewed chance to access F-35 jets, while Ankara continues to advance its domestic aviation program. However, Turkey’s local rival, Greece, which recently acquired its own F-35s, opposes such a sale to Ankara, further complicating the geopolitical dynamics.