F-16 Fighting Falcon News

November 28, 2024 (by Lieven Dewitte) - The Turkish Air Force cancelled its request to buy 79 F-16 Block-70 upgrade kits from the US, opting instead for a comparable indigenous solution based on #TUSAS F-16 Özgür-II platform.
The request was a key aspect of a complex negotiation with the U.S. aimed at unlocking Sweden and Finland’s accession to NATO. For now, Ankara appears to be betting on its domestic military-industrial complex to handle the modernization process, further straining relations with its American ally, whose approval is required to advance efforts to upgrade the U.S.-origin platform.

The original deal included the acquisition of 79 modernization kits to upgrade F-16s to Block 70, alongside the purchase of 40 new Vipers of this variant. The total package, initially valued at $23 billion, would now be reduced to an estimated $6.5–$7 billion, covering the purchase of the 40 aircraft and an accompanying weapons package.

Explaining the decision, Minister of Defense Güler remarked: “We gave up on [the 79 modernization kits] for this reason: Our Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ) facilities is currently in a position to carry out this F-16 modernization on its own. That’s why we will transfer the process there. We will purchase the 40 new aircraft. Special ammunition is also included. The total amount will be approximately $6.5–$7 billion.”

The specific upgrades Turkey’s domestic industry plans to implement on the fighters remain unclear. However, recent developments provide some insight into the process. Notably, this year, ASELSAN successfully integrated its MURAD AESA radar into an F-16 block 30 fighter of the Turkish Air Force—a system also intended for Turkey’s future KAAN fighter under local development. Additionally, as part of the ÖZGÜR program, Turkey has upgraded its Block 30 fighters with a new locally produced avionics system and extended the service life of their airframes.

Lastly, it is worth mentioning that the purchase of 40 new F-16 Block 70 aircraft has reportedly already commenced, with initial payments confirmed by Minister Güler. However, with the collapse of negotiations for the new modernization kits, it remains uncertain whether the U.S. will readily approve Turkey’s plans to proceed with locally managed upgrades to bring the F-16s to higher blocks as announced.

Turkey tabled its bid for the new F-16s in 2020 after it was expelled in 2019 from an international consortium that manufactures next-generation F-35 fighter jets under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act over its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. The act was overwhelmingly passed by Congress in 2017 to deter significant defense transactions with Russia.

Guler said Turkey was still seeking to return to the F-35 program, under which it had already paid roughly $1.4 billion to acquire the jets before its purchase was blocked.

“We are both insisting on the return of our production share and expressing our desire to acquire a total of 40 F-35 aircraft,” he said.

Turkey is one of the largest operators of F-16s, with its fleet made up of more than 200 older Block 30, 40 and 50 models. While Ankara is also interested in buying Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets it is also developing its own combat aircraft, the TAI Kaan. The Kaan completed its maiden flight in late February, while its mass production is expected to start in 2028.