Ankara (Somalia Today) — Turkey is seeking swift deals with European partners and the United States to obtain advanced fighter jets, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters. The NATO member aims to modernize its aging fleet and close the gap with regional rivals.
Ankara’s push to quickly reinforce its air power follows Israeli strikes in neighboring countries that exposed key vulnerabilities, officials said. Turkey, which fields NATO’s second-largest military, also faces pressure from regional rival Greece. Greece is expected to receive advanced F-35 jets within three years.
Turkey’s drive for new aircraft comes after Washington approved Greece’s F-35 purchase in 2024. Ankara, which has NATO’s second-largest active force, was removed from the F-35 program in 2020.
The United States imposed sanctions after Turkey bought Russia’s S-400 air-defense system—still the main obstacle to any US jet deal, according to official statements.
Eurofighter deal nears
Ankara is close to a deal for 40 Eurofighter Typhoon jets and signed a preliminary agreement in July, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Under the proposal, Turkey would receive 12 used Typhoons from previous buyers Qatar and Oman to cover immediate needs. The consortium—Britain, Germany, Italy, and Spain—would then supply 28 new jets, pending a final purchase agreement, the person said.
President Tayyip Erdogan will discuss the plan during visits to Qatar and Oman this week. Sources said agreements could be sealed when he later hosts British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
A UK government spokesperson told Reuters that a July memorandum “paves the way for a multibillion-pound order of up to 40 aircraft.” He added “We look forward to agreeing on the final contracting details soon.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said last week in Ankara that Berlin supported the purchase. He later told broadcaster NTV that a deal could follow within the year.
Turkey’s defence ministry said talks with Britain were moving in a “positive direction” and that the other consortium members backed the procurement. However, no final agreement has been reached. Qatar and Oman did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
US waiver sought
Securing U.S.-made F-35 jets has proven more difficult. Washington barred Ankara from buying them in 2020. It imposed sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) over the S-400 acquisition.
Erdogan made no headway on the issue at a White House meeting with President Donald Trump last month, sources said.
Separate sources said Ankara has considered proposing a plan that would include a US presidential “waiver” to overcome CAATSA sanctions. That could open the door to resolving the S-400 dispute and, eventually, an F-35 purchase.
Turkey’s possession of the S-400s remains the central hurdle. But Ankara and Washington have publicly signaled a desire to move past it, saying both sides have the political will to do so.
“Both sides know that resolving CAATSA needs to be done,” Harun Armagan, vice chair of foreign affairs for Erdogan’s ruling AK Party, told Reuters. “Whether it is a presidential waiver or a congressional decision, that is up to the United States.”
The Turkish foreign ministry did not respond to questions about a possible waiver option. The White House did not immediately comment.
A State Department spokesperson said the Trump administration recognizes Turkey’s strategic importance and is “seeking creative solutions to all of these pending issues,” without elaborating.
Domestic options
Price concerns have hampered talks on a separate, earlier agreement to buy 40 U.S. F-16s, a US source said. The source added that Turkey wants the more advanced F-35s instead.
Frustrated by past arms embargoes, Turkey is also developing its own KAAN stealth fighter.
Officials acknowledge it will take years before the KAAN can replace the F-16s that form the backbone of Turkey’s air force.
Yanki Bagcioglu, an opposition CHP lawmaker and former Turkish Air Force brigadier general, said Turkey must accelerate plans for all three jets.
“At present, our air-defence system is not at the desired level,” he said, blaming “project-management failures.”
