Defense Ministry source: Turkey turned to Eurofighter aircraft due to uncertainty over F-16

Turkey reportedly wants to buy Eurofighter fighter jets from Europe due to current uncertainty over the sale of F-16s from the United States.

Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler said in his statement last week that they were planning to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft and were in talks with England and Spain in this context. Güler said: “We want to buy Eurofighter. A very efficient aircraft. These planes are related to England, Germany and Spain. Both England and Spain say “yes” and are working to persuade Germany. “England and Spain say ‘we will solve that problem,'” he said.

Speaking to Reuters, a senior Defense Ministry source said Turkey has started negotiations to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons from Europe. The official said Ankara submitted a request to buy the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet after Turkey’s process to buy F-16 fighter jets from the US took longer and there was a possibility of negative results.

The source said that Defense Minister Güler will discuss the sale of fighter jets today in Ankara with his British counterpart, Grant Shapps, and that Turkey wants the newest and most modern versions of the planes, adding: “Britain claims which will help eliminate Germany’s objections on this issue.”

The Eurofighter fighter jet is produced by a consortium consisting of the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain and Italy.

F-16 UNCERTAINTY CONTINUES

After Ankara purchased Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, the United States removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2021. Later, as tension in Turkish-American relations eased, Ankara presented a official request to purchase 40 F-16 fighter jets and modernization kits for its existing fleets in the US in order to avoid any weakness in its air power.

On April 17, the Joe Biden administration transmitted to the US Congress its notification on the sale of modernization kits, after Turkey approved Finland’s participation in NATO.

However, due to the objections of some US senators, the sale of F-16s to Turkey remains uncertain for a long time. Approval requires the approval of the United States Congress.