Told You It Was All About Defense Contractor Money

I've written a bit about how the the US dropped Turkey from the F-35 program after their purchase of the Russian S-400 system.

I have noted repeatedly that this was not driven by security concerns, as was claimed by the Pentagon and State Department, but rather it was driven by the fact that they did not want to see defense procurement money going somewhere that the US Military-Industrial complex does not get their vig, as they would if the Turks were to acquire systems from the US or other western suppliers.

It appears now that Turkey is in the process of developing a credible alternative to the F-35, the United States is considering allowing the Purchase of the US stealth fighter.

The US revised its position on the sale of F-35 fighter jets to Türkiye after witnessing its progress with its domestically developed KAAN fighter jet, Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler said Tuesday.

“When the Americans saw that we could build and fly the KAAN, they changed their minds a bit about the F-35,” Guler said, addressing the Turkish Parliament's Planning and Budget Commission.

“Now, they are expressing willingness to provide F-35s. However, no progress has been made. We insist on reclaiming our production share and maintain our request to acquire F-35s,” he added.

Guler also highlighted Ankara’s efforts to modernize the Air Force until the light combat aircraft HURJET and KAAN are operational.

He announced a $1.4 billion payment for 40 US F-16 Block 70 Viper jets, adding Türkiye will modernize its 79 older F-16s in Turkish Aerospace Industries facilities. 

This could be Turkish puffery, or this could be some sort of arrangement with the S-400, there have been rumors that it will be placed under US control, or it could be that Lockheed Martin just wants it's money.

Still, this is an interesting development.