Media: Türkiye open to S-400 compromise amid F-16 price dispute with US

Türkiye has indicated it is open to a compromise over its Russian-made S-400 air defence systems but has refused to scrap them entirely, despite pressure from Washington.

Sources familiar with the matter said Ankara may agree to a technical, joint military mechanism with NATO allies to oversee the use of the S-400, a potential step towards easing tensions with the United States, Caliber.Az reports, citing Bloomberg.

The development comes as Türkiye faces delays in its ambition to produce its first domestically built fighter jet, largely due to its dependence on US-made engines. Meanwhile, its regional rival Greece has moved ahead with its own military modernisation, ordering F-35 jets from the US after purchasing French Rafale fighters.

In response, Ankara has strengthened defence ties with the UK, signing a deal last month to buy 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets, with an option for additional aircraft. It also plans to acquire 12 used Typhoons from Qatar and another 12 from Oman, with deliveries expected in early 2026.

At the same time, Türkiye is preparing for another round of talks with US defence giant Lockheed Martin to resolve a dispute over the cost of its multibillion-dollar F-16 deal.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan reportedly made a personal appeal to US President Donald Trump during their White House meeting in September, urging progress on the sale of 40 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets.

Although the US Congress approved the sale in early 2024, Türkiye has resisted Lockheed’s demand that it fund upgrades to the jets’ mission computer systems and contribute to new production lines intended to ease a backlog of orders.

Ankara, already the world’s largest F-16 operator outside the US, is also seeking access to the aircraft’s mission computer source code to integrate its own domestically developed missiles and radar systems.

The overall value of the F-16 agreement remains unclear. Each jet typically costs tens of millions of dollars, depending on configuration and accompanying systems.

Lockheed Martin said in a statement that its F-16s offered “affordable operating and lifecycle costs,” while referring further questions to both governments. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Türkiye’s Defence Ministry declined to discuss the matter.

Officials in Ankara have also indicated continued interest in eventually purchasing 40 F-35 fighter jets if the US lifts congressional sanctions imposed over the S-400 acquisition.

By Aghakazim Guliyev