Turkey Seeks Local F-16/F-35 Parts Production, Erdogan to Discuss with Trump

Ankara's Push for Domestic Defense Production

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is reportedly planning to seek approval from former U.S. President Donald Trump for significant defense production deals, aiming to establish local manufacturing of parts for both F-16 and F-35 fighter jets. This initiative comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between the two leaders on September 25, 2025, where Ankara hopes to finalize agreements worth over $10 billion in local production to offset planned purchases of American aircraft.

The proposed deals encompass manufacturing, maintenance, spare parts production, and potential co-assembly of U.S. jet components within Turkey. This strategic move is driven by a desire for greater self-sufficiency in defense, U.S. sanctions, and budgetary considerations.

Re-engaging with the F-35 Program

Turkey, once a Level 3 partner in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, was removed in 2019 following its acquisition of the Russian-made S-400 air defense system. Prior to its exclusion, Turkish companies were integral to the F-35 supply chain, producing approximately 900 components, including fuselage sections, with contracts valued at an estimated $12 billion. Turkey had also paid around $1.4 billion into the program, and six Turkish F-35A jets were completed and stationed at Luke Air Force Base for pilot training but were never delivered.

Despite Washington's consistent stance that the F-35 and S-400 systems are incompatible due to security risks, Erdogan is reportedly hoping Trump will agree to amend CAATSA sanctions. Such a development could potentially allow Turkey to purchase 40 F-35A jets and reinstate Turkish firms into the F-35 production supply chain. However, U.S. officials maintain that any return to the F-35 program would require verifiable measures to eliminate the risks posed by the S-400 system.

F-16 Modernization and the Özgür Project

Turkey currently operates around 240 F-16s, making it the second-largest fleet globally after the United States. Ankara is seeking to acquire 40 new F-16 Viper (Block 70) fighters, along with bombs, missiles, and spare engines, a sale that the U.S. approved after Turkey ratified Sweden's NATO membership.

Significantly, Turkey has scaled back its initial plan to purchase 79 modernization kits for its existing F-16 fleet as part of a $23 billion deal. Instead, Ankara is now focusing on domestically modernizing its F-16s through the Özgür Project, utilizing facilities at Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAŞ). This domestic effort includes integrating indigenous systems such as Aselsan's MURAD 100-A AESA radar and national mission computers, which is expected to reduce the program's cost to between $6.5 billion and $7 billion.

Furthermore, Turkey has requested U.S. permission to obtain and assemble GE Aerospace F110 and F404 engines, which power American-made fighter jets as well as Turkey's indigenous Kaan warplanes and Hurjet training aircraft.

Diplomatic Efforts and Strategic Implications

The upcoming meeting between President Erdogan and Donald Trump is viewed as a crucial opportunity to repair strained U.S.-Turkey relations, particularly concerning the lingering S-400 issue. Turkey's push for local production and its efforts to re-engage with U.S. defense programs underscore its ambition to enhance its defense industrial base and achieve greater strategic autonomy. The outcome of these discussions could significantly shape Turkey's military capabilities and its geopolitical standing in the coming years.