Framed as yet another significant chapter in this long-running saga, the United States has sent a new signal that it continues to evaluate moving forward with the sale of its most advanced F-35A stealth fighters to Turkiye, even in the face of Israel’s opposition to relinquishing its status as the only country in the region equipped with this type of aircraft in order to preserve its technological edge. In particular, the matter was confirmed by President Donald Trump himself during a recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, stating that it is a decision that “we are thinking about very seriously.”
In this regard, it should be recalled that Turkey has been excluded from the U.S.-led F-35 program since 2019, after sanctions were imposed under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) following Ankara’s acquisition of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. In fact, this issue has been highlighted for months as one of the main prerequisites Washington would demand for Turkey’s possible reintegration: getting rid of the S-400 systems or placing them under U.S. troop control prior to any delivery of the fighter. The underlying concern, as previously reported, is that Russia could gain access to sensitive information about the aircraft, whose stealth characteristics are its primary advantage.
More recently, the U.S. ambassador to Turkey, Tom Barrack, even stated that the country was already taking steps to remove these systems from its inventory, thereby opening the door to the lifting of sanctions. Although Ankara invested nearly USD 1.4 billion in acquiring the S-400s, the official remarked that “I think these issues will be resolved in the next four to six months,” later answering affirmatively when asked whether he believed Turkey would part with them.
With this in mind, local analysts and diplomats involved in the negotiations suggest that the good personal relationship between President Trump and his counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdoğan could also be a key factor in finding a solution, with the F-35 program being one of several topics discussed during their meeting last September. At that time, the Turkish president stated: “I hope the F-35 issue will be resolved and the CAATSA sanctions lifted (…) We must achieve this. Our visit has ushered in a new era in Turkish-American relations and has further strengthened dialogue and friendship between us.”
It is important to note, however, that this positive dynamic contrasts sharply with the strained relationship between Israel and Turkey. In particular, President Erdoğan has taken a firm stance against the actions of Israeli forces in operations against the terrorist group Hamas, accusing them of committing genocidal acts against the population of the Gaza Strip. In addition, both countries maintain tense relations regarding the situation in Syria, a neighboring country that has been the target of Israeli airstrikes in recent months.
When questioned on this point, President Trump stated that Erdoğan is a “very good friend,” adding that “we’re not going to have any problems, nothing is going to happen.” It should also be noted that Trump has previously shown a willingness to supply F-35 fighters to other countries in the region, potentially at the expense of Israel’s technological advantage in future conflicts. As an illustrative example, reference can be made to Saudi Arabia and the recent visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Washington, with the aircraft emerging as a focal point after the U.S. president confirmed that fighters would be sold to Riyadh.
Modernization of Turkey’s air capabilities
Looking beyond Turkey’s potential steps toward acquiring the F-35, it is worth recalling that its Air Force has also recently welcomed confirmation from the United Kingdom regarding the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, which would reinforce a fleet currently composed primarily of F-16s. As previously reported in October, this is an operation valued at £8 billion, involving around 20 aircraft that would help keep production lines active and sustain more than 20,000 jobs within the UK. Under current timelines, these fighters would begin entering service from 2030 onward.
In addition, Ankara is also setting its sights on Typhoon fleets operated by the air forces of Oman and Qatar, which would further consolidate the platform within Turkish service. Various local reports suggest a potential purchase of 24 aircraft along with weapons packages to facilitate rapid integration, although the need to upgrade them with a new AESA radar and the capability to deploy Meteor missiles has also been mentioned.
Finally, consideration should also be given to the domestic development of the KAAN fighter, which is intended to serve as an alternative to the F-35 for the Turkish Air Force and has already been cited by Turkish officials as a factor influencing the United States’ willingness to expedite a potential sale of the Lockheed Martin-built aircraft. As early as mid-2024, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler stated before the National Assembly: “Now that they have seen our progress with KAAN, their stance seems to be changing. They are indicating that they might be willing to deliver them. We have officially resubmitted our offer to purchase the F-35.”
Images used for illustrative purposes.
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