Türkiye F-16V deals approved
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Republic of Türkiye of 40 new-built Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70 aircraft and the upgrade of 79 F-16s from the current fleet to the V-Configuration.
The approvals follow the ratification by Türkiye of Sweden joining NATO. Türkiye’s delay in approving the ratification had been a major obstacle to winning congressional approval for the fighter jet deal. Back in October 2021, Türkiye requested the purchase F-16 Block 70 fighters and nearly 80 modernisation kits for its existing fleet.
The USD 23.0 billion Aircraft Acquisition and Modernisation programme includes 32 newly built F-16C Block 70 and 8 newly built F-16D Block 70 aircraft and upgrade kits for 79 F-16C/D aircraft that are currently in service with the Türk Hava Kuvvetleri (TurAF, Turkish Air Force).
In July 2023, Scramble Magazine reported that Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave the green light for Sweden to join NATO at the NATO summit in Vilnius (Lithuania). Dating back to October 2021, the Turkish government made inquiries to procure new F-16s in the Block 70/72 'Viper' configuration and Viper upgrade packages for 79 existing Block 50/Block 50+ Fighting Falcons.
Credit image: Lockheed Martin