Air Force getting older, Turkey presses US for F-16 fighters after F-35 plan scuppered

The United States is discussing Turkey’s request to purchase F-16 fighters after a deal for extra superior F-35s was scrapped because of Ankara’s buy of a Russian missile system, officers mentioned.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan mentioned on October 17 that Ankara desires to purchase the cheaper F-16s utilizing the $1.4 billion it allotted for the cancelled F-35 deal.But one US official mentioned that any doable F-16 order might be dogged by the identical difficulty that compelled the cancellation of the F-35s: Turkey’s choice to purchase an S-400 missile system from Russia.The S-400, used to trace and shoot down attacking plane, was seen as a risk to the F-35 joint strike fighter program adopted in a number of Nato nations.US defence officers met in Ankara Wednesday with Turkish counterparts to resolve remaining points from the F-35 program, and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke Thursday with Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar, saying in a press release that the Pentagon recognised “Turkey’s military modernization needs.”ALSO READ | Pakistan to stay on FATF Grey List, Turkey new entrantThe F-16 request might be mentioned when US President Joe Biden meets with Erdogan on the sidelines of the COP26 local weather convention in Glasgow which begins on Sunday.RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE PLATFORMAccording to Turkish media, the nation desires to purchase 40 F-16s and kits to improve 80 warplanes in its present fleet.In 2002, Turkey joined a number of different Nato allies who agreed to purchase the F-35, and 5 years later reached a deal to take part in its manufacturing, an settlement price probably billions of {dollars} to Turkish business.But simply because the United States was making ready to ship the primary two of 100 plane deliberate for the Turkish air drive, in 2017 Ankara introduced it was shopping for an S-400 battery.One week after the Turkish ministry of defence obtained the primary supply of S-400 parts in July 2019, Washington introduced the cancellation of Turkey’s F-35 program.ALSO READ | Russia to counter US’ F-35 with ‘Checkmate’: All you have to learn about Moscow’s new fighter aircraftUS officers mentioned the presence of the S-400 would enable the Russians — Nato’s major adversary — to gather data on the plane’s essential stealth capabilities.“Turkey cannot field a Russian intelligence collection platform in proximity to where the F-35 program makes, repairs, and houses the F-35,” mentioned Pentagon Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition Ellen Lord on the time.Five months later, Washington slapped sanctions on Turkey’s Presidency of Defense Industries, which is in command of defence expertise imports, for violating US sanctions on Russia.AGING AIR FORCEThe choice left Turkey with an air drive in want of rejuvenation, mentioned Aykan Erdemir, head of the Turkey program on the Foundation for Defense of Democracies assume tank.“Turkey definitely needs modern fighters to replace its aging fleet,” Erdemir instructed AFP.“Hence, this alternative path of procurement would be crucial,” he mentioned, referring to the F-16.In broaching the F-16 thought, Erdogan hinted that he might flip to Russia for fighter jets if spurned by the United States.But it’s not clear if that may sway Washington.“We’ve urged Turkey at every level and opportunity not to retain the S-400 system and refrain from purchasing any additional Russian military equipment,” Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman mentioned at the start of October after Erdogan held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.ALSO READ | US senators urge Biden to waive sanctions in opposition to India over Russian S-400 dealOPPOSITION IN CONGRESSAny army gross sales must be accepted by the US Congress, the place anti-Turkish sentiment is powerful due to Erdogan’s file on human rights.Echoing stress that helped result in the F-35 cancellation, on Monday a gaggle of 11 lawmakers within the US Congress wrote a letter to Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken objecting to any F-16 sale.“We cannot afford to compromise our national security by sending US-manufactured aircraft to a treaty ally which continues to behave like an adversary,” they mentioned.Both Washington and Ankara face dangers in outright rejecting the opposite, and Erdogan doubtless feels stress each from Biden and Putin, Erdemir mentioned.“I don’t think there is any immediate solution to this deadlock, and that’s why I think Washington and other European capitals are eyeing the 2022 election, hoping that that could be a way out,” he mentioned, referring to the upcoming midterm vote that would change the composition of Congress.