According to the head of the Turkish Defense Industry Department Ismail Demir, in the event that Washington refuses to supply Ankara with F-35 fighters, Russian Su-35s may be one of the alternatives. Demir stated this in an interview with the Turkish TV channel CNN Türk..
The US government has previously said, that fifth-generation F-35 fighters will not be supplied to Turkey, motivating this by Ankara's acquisition from Russia of the latest S-400 air defense systems. Later, Washington offered the Turks to buy fourth-generation F-16 fighters in return.. However, these aircraft also, so to speak, friction.
Ankara received the first S-400s back in 2019 year. In August of this year, it was announced the start of deliveries of the second stage of S-400 air defense systems.. For this, the United States imposed sanctions against Turkey, including the freezing of the accounts of the aforementioned Demir and the directorate of the defense industry headed by him.
known, that before the imposition of sanctions in Turkey, a number of components for the F-35 were being produced. However, it was curtailed. This caused outrage in Ankara., who started talking, that if the United States refuses to resume participation in the F-35 program, it can buy aircraft from Russia – or Su-35, or Su-57.
The issue of the supply of F-35s to Turkey has not yet been finally resolved. Rejection of the deal or its approval must be agreed in the US Congress.
In case of a final refusal, Ankara will look for alternative options. However, not many arms manufacturers can offer fifth-generation fighters.. In fact, it can be either Russian Su-57, or a Chinese J-20 fighter. There is no talk of any negotiations with China on this issue yet.. Author:Bekhan Uzhakhov
