Published February 26,2024
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Türkiye is targeted on the F-16 warplanes reasonably than F-35s, the Turkish president stated in a press release on Monday.
“We are locked on the F-16s rather than the F-35s,” Recep Tayyip Erdoğan instructed reporters at his Justice and Development Party’s (AK Party) headquarters within the capital Ankara.
“We discussed with US senators the steps we will take on the F-16s,” he stated, referring to a current go to to Türkiye by senators Jeanne Shaheen and Chris Murphy.
The president additionally stated the Turkish authorities, together with Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, is continuous talks with their US counterparts on the warplanes.
On Jan. 27, the US State Department authorized the pending $23 billion sale of F-16 plane and modernization kits to Türkiye after Ankara greenlighted Sweden’s NATO membership.
Türkiye in October 2021 requested from the US 40 new F-16 Block 70 plane, in addition to 79 modernization kits to improve its remaining F-16s to Block 70 degree.
Türkiye was a part of the F-35 program earlier than its participation was suspended over a dispute on Ankara shopping for S-500 Russian air protection after its efforts to purchase US Patriot missiles had been rebuffed.
A senior US diplomat just lately appeared to open the door to Türkiye maybe becoming a member of the F-35 program if the dispute had been resolved.
Türkiye final week had a profitable check flight of its personal fifth-generation homegrown fighter jet, the KAAN.
Source: www.anews.com.tr
