Turkey F-35 Program: Redirecting F-16 Funds to F-35s
**Recent developments suggest that if Turkey is allowed to rejoin the F-35 program, the funding initially allocated for F-16 fighter jets could potentially be redirected to support the F-35 initiative. Reports indicate that around 1.4 billion dollars, earmarked for F-16 procurement, may be channeled into acquiring F-35 aircraft, contingent on Turkey’s reinstatement in the F-35 project.**
Sources familiar with the situation revealed to Middle East Eye that Turkey has deliberately slowed its multi-billion-dollar F-16 acquisition deal with the U.S., signaling a strategic pivot back to the F-35 program. Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had a critical discussion with U.S. President Donald Trump, wherein he articulated Turkey’s request to revisit its need for F-35 fighter jets.
This dialogue has prompted both nations to engage in talks aimed at resolving the core issue that led to Turkey’s exclusion from the F-35 program in 2019 – specifically, Turkey’s procurement of the Russian S-400 air defense systems. As a key partner in the F-35 consortium, Turkey was originally responsible for producing some essential components of the aircraft.
The U.S. currently holds six F-35s that were built for Turkey and fully paid for, although their status has remained uncertain since 2019. As one source noted, “Turkey halted the F-16 agreement.” The source further indicated that if Washington reinstates Turkey in the F-35 program, the funds already allocated could indeed support the F-35 acquisitions instead.
In this light, Turkey’s Defense Minister Yaşar Güler confirmed that the nation made an initial payment of 1.4 billion dollars for the F-16s acquired in November. Another source pointed out that both the F-16 and F-35 jets are manufactured by Lockheed Martin, raising the possibility of redirecting those funds effectively.
The source added, “There’s a long production queue for the F-16s, and Ankara could face significant delays, possibly years, before its first jets arrive.” Conversely, if Turkey is readmitted to the F-35 program, there is a possibility that it could receive the six F-35s produced specifically for it without further delay.
Additionally, Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during a live appearance on CNN Türk, mentioned that legal teams from both nations, along with the Trump administration, are exploring feasible options to lift the sanctions imposed related to the S-400 defense systems. This ongoing dialogue underscores the complexities and negotiations at play as Turkey seeks to strengthen its standing within the F-35 program.
