Turkey Still Interested In Buying Typhoon Eurofighters, US Opens Opportunity To Return To The F-35 Fighter Jet Program With Conditions

Norwegian F-16 fighter jets fly over the Balkan Wikimedia Commons SRA GREG L. DAVIS

JAKARTA - Turkey is still interested in buying Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, a state defense ministry official said Thursday, despite progress in the process of selling US$23 billion worth of F-16 fighter jets, while opportunities to return to the F-35 fighter jet program have also reopened Washington.

Last November, Turkey said it was in talks with Britain and Spain to buy Typhoon, when Ankara acknowledged the request for the purchase of an F-16 fighter jet from the US, which was first filed in October 2021, may not work.

Last week the administration of US President Joe Biden officially notified Congress of its intention to continue the sale of 40 of the latest generation F-16 aircraft and nearly 80 modernization equipment to Turkey, a day after Turkey ratified its NATO membership for Sweden.

"We are still interested (Typhoon), we expect a positive approach from members of the German consortium on this issue," the official said.

On Tuesday, Washington expressed its willingness to welcome Turkey back to the F-35 fighter jet program if the dispute over the S-400 air defense system that Ankara obtained from Russia was resolved.

"If we can solve the S-400 issue, and America will be happy to welcome Turkey back to the F-35 family," Victoria's Deputy Foreign Minister Nuland said during a visit to the country, quoted by the Daily Sabah.

"But first of all, we need to solve this other issue and ensure Turkey maintains a strong air defense," he said.

Turkey is known to be trying to buy F-35 fighter jets. However, Washington imposed sanctions, known as CAATSA, and removed them from multinational programs to buy, help develop and build the warship in 2019, after the country acquired the S-400 from Russia.

Washington argued that the air missile defense system poses a risk to the advanced fighter jet. Meanwhile, Ankara insists that the system will not be integrated into NATO systems.

Turkey is known to have ordered around 100 F-35s and its company is building about 900 spare parts for the fighter jet.

"If we can overcome this problem, then CAATSA's problem will be lost, and we can re-discuss F-35," Nuland said.

Turkey demanded reimbursement for payments made for the F-35, asking to purchase F-16 fighter aircraft and modernization equipment.

Nuland stressed that his visit coincided with Turkey's approval of Sweden's membership in NATO, as well as to "revitalize" relations between the two countries. Nuland stressed that Turkey's acquisition of the F-16 was a US priority.