Published November 17,2023
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Türkiye plans to purchase 40 Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, National Defense Minister Yaşar Güler stated Thursday.
“We want to buy Eurofighter. It is a very effective aircraft. These aircraft are related to the UK, Germany and Spain,” he advised parliament. “Both the UK and Spain say ‘yes’, and now they are working to persuade Germany. The UK and Spain say: ‘We will solve that problem’. If solved, we plan to purchase 40 Eurofighter jets,”
He stated F-16 and F-4 jets which can be within the Turkish Air Force stock are adequate for the duties Türkiye will conduct.
“But of course, we are looking beyond. For this, we applied for the F-35, but some problems arose with the F-35. We are also working on alternatives,” stated Güler.
The U.S. suspended Türkiye from the F-35 fighter jet program in 2019 after objecting to Ankara shopping for the Russian S-400 missile protection system, claiming the Russian system would endanger the fighter jets.
Türkiye has stated repeatedly that there isn’t any battle between the 2 techniques and proposed a fee to review the problem. Türkiye additionally stated it fulfilled its obligations for the F-35s and its suspension was towards the foundations.
Turning to the F-16 fighter jets buy from the U.S., Güler stated: “To modernize our F-16s, we will purchase 40 ready-made F-16 Block 70 Vipers and modernize 79 of them at Turkish Aerospace Industry (TUSAS).”
Separately, Türkiye made a request to Washington in 2021 for 40 F-16 jets and modernization kits. The State Department informally notified Congress of the potential sale.
Ankara maintains that the jets would strengthen not solely Türkiye however NATO.
Source: www.anews.com.tr