Russian SU-35s may be alternative if US doesn't sell F-16s: Turkey
With the F-16 fighter jet deal still impending with the US, Turkey is already securing itself by suggesting the purchase of Russian SU-35 jets to avoid a worst-case scenario.
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Defense Industry Agency President Ismail Demir (Savunma Haber agency)
Defense Industry Agency President Ismail Demir told CNN Turk, upon being asked about Turkey's alternatives in case the F-16 deal with the US falls through, that "one of the variants could be the Su-35."
The US House of Representatives passed an amendment in July to the National Defense Authorization Act impeding the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey, by requiring assurances on behalf of the US President that the aircraft will not be tools for unauthorized territorial overflights in Greece, as per US claims.
In light of that, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke on Thursday of the possibility of having a telephone conversation with his US counterpart, Joe Biden, to discuss the purchase of F-16 fighter jets.
In 2019, the United States removed Turkey's participation in its F-35 program due to Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 air defense system. Last year, Erdogan announced that the US suggested that Turkey procure the fourth generation of the F-16 fighter jets instead of the fifth generation F-35s.
After canceling the joint memorandum on the F-16 with Turkey, Washington signed it with the seven remaining partners - the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Denmark, Canada, and Norway.
Earlier this month, Erdogan said Turkey may consider countries such as Russia if the US fails to follow through with a pledge to deliver F-16 fighter jets, stating, "The US is not the only one selling warplanes in the world. The UK, France, and Russia sell them as well. It's possible to procure them from other places, and others are sending us signals."
