Turkish officials: If the United States does not sell F-16, Turkey can consider purchasing the Russian-35 fighter aircraft

Author:Global Times Time:2022.09.26

According to today's Russian TV (RT) website reported on the 25th, the Turkish Defense Industry Administration Director Ismail Demir said in an interview with the US CNN Turk on the 24th that if it cannot To purchase an F-16 fighter in the United States, Turkey will prepare to consider purchasing the Su-35 fighter from Russia.

American F-16 fighter US media information map

Demir said in the interview: "If there is no F-16 ... we will say that Turkey is not without other choices. All the alternative plans, including Su-35, are placed on the desktop." RT reported that Russia Su- 35 is a high -mobility fighter that can destroy air targets and crack down on sea and ground targets, such as air defense positions.

Earlier in 2019, the United States excludes Turkey outside the F-35 fighter project and refuses to deliver the F-35 fighter that Turkey has purchased, because Turkey refuses to abandon the agreement to purchase the S-400 air defense missile system from Russia. Since then, Turkey has been looking for the modernization of the Air Force.

S-400 air defense missile system Map Source: Russia Tower Club

RT pointed out that Turkey severely criticized Washington at the time and believed that Turkey could freely buy weapons from any country. Demir said in an interview, "I can say that there is a very obvious and attentive motivation here. The S-400 is only used as an excuse."

After the United States excludes it outside the F-35 project and refuses to deliver the fighter, Turkey has been negotiating with the United States on purchasing 40 F-16 fighters. Turkish President Erdogan told reporters in New York on the 22nd that the relevant negotiations were "actively carried out." He said, "We hope this positive atmosphere can continue. I think we will get results as soon as possible."

In June of this year, US President Biden said that he fully supported Turkey to sell F-16 fighters in the United States. (Edit: HHJ)

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