Turkey Reduces $23-B F-16 Fighter Jet Deal With U.S.

Turkey has scaled back its planned $23 billion acquisition of an F-16 fighter jet package from the United States, opting not to purchase 79 modernization kits for its current fleet, Defense Minister Yasar Guler announced Tuvan Gumrukcu reported for Reuters.

Turkey, a NATO member, initially secured a deal to buy 40 F-16 Block-70 Viper jets and 79 upgrade kits earlier this year after lengthy negotiations. I Photo: Staff Sgt. Jonathan Snyder, U.S. Air Force

Turkey, a NATO member, initially secured a deal to buy 40 F-16 Block-70 Viper jets and 79 upgrade kits earlier this year after lengthy negotiations.

"An initial payment of $1.4 billion has been made for the procurement of the F-16 Block-70 Viper," Guler said during a parliamentary hearing.

"We decided against purchasing the 79 modernization kits because our Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS) facilities are fully capable of performing these upgrades domestically."

The purchase of the new jets and accompanying ammunition is expected to cost $7 billion.

Turkey first placed its order in October 2021, two years after being removed from the F-35 fighter jet program due to its acquisition of a Russian missile defense system. Guler also expressed Turkey's desire to rejoin the F-35 program and procure 40 new jets.