Turkey has started the procedure for purchasing F-16 aircraft from the United States. This was announced on Saturday, October 23, by the Minister of National Defense of the country Hulusi Akar.
"The process of placing an order for the supply of F16 aircraft has begun. We are closely monitoring the process. The strengthening of Turkey is the growth of NATO's defense power," Anadolu agency quotes him on Twitter.
On October 18, the head of the Turkish Defense Industry Department, Ismail Demir, admitted that Ankara could buy Su-35 and Su-57 fighters from Moscow if Washington suspends the sale of F-16 fighters to Turkey.
On the eve of Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the country was offered to buy F-16 fighters from the United States. This happened after the United States excluded Ankara from the program to create a new generation of F-35 fighters on March 4, 2020.
The White House has repeatedly warned the Turkish leadership about the negative consequences of arms purchases from Moscow. So, on December 14, 2020, Washington, within the framework of the law "On Countering America's Adversaries through Sanctions," introduced restrictive measures against the Turkish Defense Industry Department and its head Ismail Demir. This happened after the S-400 tests that Ankara conducted in October 2020.
In July 2019, Turkey acquired S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMS) from Russia. Then the Turkish leader pointed out that the deal had taken place, as former US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed Turkey's right to choose arms suppliers.
In turn, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said in October 2019 that it was necessary, since the republic had not previously had its own air defense system.
