Turkey seeks potential acquisition of six F-35 fighter jets from the United States

Turkish Deputy Minister of National Defense Kavaklioglu expressed optimism regarding ongoing negotiations with the United States to acquire six F-35 fighter jets previously constructed for Ankara. Speaking to CNN Turk, Kavaklioglu highlighted the positive relationship between Presidents Erdogan and Trump as a key factor in facilitating these discussions and resolving existing CAATSA sanctions imposed following Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.

However, technical challenges remain a significant obstacle to the potential transfer. Reports from the Turkish newspaper Nefes, citing Defence Security Asia, indicate that the six jets belong to older production lots (Lot 10 and Lot 11) and lack the modern Technology Refresh 3 (TR-3) software suite. Experts suggest that even if a political agreement is reached, substantial costs and time-consuming hardware and software upgrades would be required to integrate the aircraft into operational status. As of mid-October 2026, no official deal or upgrade roadmap has been announced.

Turkey was originally excluded from the F-35 program after its procurement of the S-400 system led to American sanctions. While Ankara continues to lobby for its return to the program and the lifting of CAATSA restrictions, significant legal and technical hurdles persist that complicate the current efforts to finalize the delivery of the stationary airframes.