Media: Türkiye may swap F-16s for jet engines to boost domestic Kaan fighter program PHOTO

Türkiye may seek to adjust its multibillion-dollar arms agreement with the United States, prioritising the acquisition of jet engines rather than F-16 warplanes and missiles, sources familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye.

Last year, Ankara scaled back its initial F-16 procurement plan, opting out of 79 modernisation kits and committing instead to purchase 40 F-16 Vipers with associated ammunition. This reduced the total value of the deal from $23 billion to $7 billion.

Now, some senior officials are advocating further changes, including scrapping the planned F-16 purchase and portions of the ammunition package entirely. Under the proposed approach, Türkiye would concentrate on investing in its domestically produced fifth-generation fighter, the Kaan, using the deal to obtain engines for the aircraft and potentially prepare for a return to the US-led F-35 programme.

The topic is expected to be raised during President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s meeting with Donald Trump on September 25, though it remains unclear whether Ankara will formally make the proposal during the Oval Office visit.

At the same time, some officials continue to stress the importance of proceeding with the 40 F-16 Vipers to bolster Türkiye’s ageing fleet. Since the US approved the original deal in early 2024, Türkiye’s defence and security leadership has been divided over the optimal strategy for replacing older F-16s.

Türkiye’s exclusion from the F-35 programme in 2019, following its purchase of Russian-made S-400 air defence systems, has left planners considering a potential fighter jet shortage in the coming years.

While the Turkish Air Force has expressed readiness to procure any available aircraft, including F-16s, Eurofighters, or F-35s, Türkiye’s top defence procurement body and key domestic producers advocate a more selective approach. They favour modernising the current F-16 fleet with rapidly advancing local technologies rather than relying on what they see as costly interim solutions until the Kaan enters service.

A Turkish consortium aims to deliver the first Kaan jets by late 2028, though analysts anticipate that deliveries may slip closer to 2030.

“Instead of spending billions on F-16s, some in Ankara argue that the funds could be redirected to purchase F-16 engines, which are compatible with the Kaan,” a source familiar with the debate said.

The first Kaan aircraft will be powered by General Electric’s F110 engines, also used in F-16s, while Türkiye plans to develop a domestic engine model for deliveries in the 2030s. Some officials are also cautious about potential restrictions linked to US-supplied F-16s, which could limit Ankara’s ability to integrate its own domestically produced payloads.

In recent years, Türkiye has advanced its indigenous weapons programs, producing cruise missiles, guided munitions, and other systems compatible with fighter jets. Defence Minister Yaşar Güler confirmed last November that Ankara has already made a $1.4 billion down payment toward the F-16s.

Other officials, however, emphasise the strategic advantage of rejoining the F-35 programme, which could provide an immediate boost to Türkiye’s fighter jet capabilities. Unlike F-16s or Eurofighters, which face production backlogs of several years, six F-35s originally built for Türkiye remain in storage and could be transferred quickly if Ankara is readmitted. Güler has also stated that Türkiye ultimately aims to acquire 40 F-35s.

By Tamilla Hasanova