Turkey was removed from the F-35 program after it purchased Russian S-400 air defense radars—but it may be willing to give them up in exchange for its return.
During President Donald Trump’s first term, Turkey—a key NATO ally of the United States, and the owner of the second-largest army within the defensive alliance—was expelled from the US-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program after it adopted the Russian-made S-400 “Triumf” air defense system. With Trump back in the White House, Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently initiated a dialogue that might allow Ankara to rejoin the program. Trump and Erdoğan reportedly discussed the matter at the recent NATO summit in The Hague, where the two “made progress.”
Could Turkey’s Russian-Made Equipment Spy on the F-35?
Turkey had been a key member of the F-35 program, but was ejected in 2019 when it went ahead with the acquisition of two batteries of the S-400. In justifying Ankara’s expulsion, Washington argued that the systems are incompatible—and Turkey’s use of a Russian-made anti-aircraft platform compromised the security of the fifth-generation stealth fighter. The argument went that Russia might implant spyware into S-400s destined for Turkey, and data from those radars’ observations of Turkish F-35s would allow the Kremlin to build up a flight profile on the aircraft, making it easier for it to shoot down American F-35s in the future.
As a result of the S-400 acquisition, Turkey also faced harsh sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Lifting those sanctions has been another top priority, one that goes well beyond the F-35.
Washington and Ankara were unable to resolve the F-35 issue during the Biden administration. However, tensions between the two capitals did ease somewhat; under Biden, the State Department approved the sale of additional F-16 Fighting Falcons to Turkey, along with modernization kits for the country’s existing fleet. Erdogan may now be looking to Trump to find a way to conclude the deal for the fifth-generation stealth fighters.
“We have not given up on the F-35s. We are discussing our intention to return to the program with our counterparts,” Erdoğan told reporters. “We discussed the issue in our meeting with Mr. Trump, talks at a technical level have started. God willing, we will make progress.”
The Turkish leader also noted that Turkey had already made payments of nearly $1.4 billion for the undelivered F-35s.
“Our teams are continuing work on the maintenance and modernization of our F-16s, as well as on procurement related to the F-35s,” the Turkish leader added.
Between the F-35 and the S-400, Turkey Might Choose the F-35
As of last year, it was reported that Ankara has yet to activate its new S-400 systems. Given American concerns about the radars, there have been plans floated that could see the systems sold or transferred to another country, with India and Pakistan being named as other potential buyers. However, such a move would likely require sign-off from Moscow.
There have also been offers from the United States to relocate the units to an American military base in Turkey, where they can be inspected. Predictably, this proposal has been vehemently denounced by the Kremlin, which fears the United States would probe them for weaknesses.
Another sticking point has been the deteriorating relations between Turkey and Israel, particularly since the start of the ongoing war in Gaza in 2023. Erdogan remains a vocal critic of Israel’s policies, especially regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, while Israel’s recent strikes on Iran have further strained diplomatic ties. Israeli policy prioritizes maintaining a tactical advantage over potential rivals in the region; therefore, it is unlikely to support Ankara’s adoption of the F-35.
Turkey Is Building Its Own Fifth-Generation Fighter Jet, Too
To further complicate matters, Turkey has also moved forward with efforts to develop a domestically built fifth-generation fighter, the TAI TF-X Kaan. The aircraft has been in development for more than a decade, but was put into overdrive after Turkey was expelled from the F-35 program.
The Kaan was initially meant to replace the F-16 rather than serve as an alternative to the F-35. Indeed, analysts have suggested it is more of a “complementary project” than an actual competitor. Still, if the F-35 is off the table, the Kaan will have to do.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / vaalaa.
