Erdogan tours Middle Eastern capitals to buy used fighter jets.
Turkey finds itself facing a military and strategic dilemma, as its decision to purchase the Russian S-400 missile defense system has temporarily excluded it from the F-35 program. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is now touring the Middle East in search of second-hand Eurofighter jets, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected in Ankara to help unblock the Eurofighter deal.
How Turkey got trapped
In 2017, despite strict U.S. warnings, Turkey decided to acquire the Russian S-400 air defense system. At the time, the move was hailed domestically as a bold statement that sent a clear message to Washington: Turkey had alternatives.
The U.S. reaction was swift and unforgiving. Turkey, a member of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program since 1999, was expelled from it.
Ankara, however, projected confidence. It declared plans to develop its own stealth fighter, the KAAN, and upgrade its large fleet of F-16s domestically. Turkish officials even claimed that, in the near future, other countries would buy the KAAN instead of the F-35, and that many would turn to Turkey for F-16 upgrades.
For a few years, this policy seemed to be working. From Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Qatar and Pakistan, several nations expressed interest in the KAAN. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) also entered talks with Islamabad to modernize Pakistan’s 74 F-16s.
Yet, eight years after that fateful decision, Turkey’s strategy appears to be collapsing at supersonic speed. The bill has come due for President Erdogan. In a move described as “strategic”, but one that reveals Ankara’s growing anxiety over the loss of air superiority in the region, Erdogan is visiting several Middle Eastern capitals to purchase used fighter jets.
Instead of closing export deals for the KAAN, the Turkish president is now asking for second-hand European aircraft — a stark reversal of his earlier ambitions.
Erdogan once sought to show the U.S. that Ankara had options. Eight years later, those “options” include knocking on the doors of Middle Eastern countries — nations Turkey once viewed as militarily and technologically inferior — to buy their used jets.
Turning to used Eurofighters
Turkey is in talks with Qatar and Oman to acquire used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, as part of efforts to boost its air force capabilities, President Erdogan said last week.
Ankara plans to procure dozens of Eurofighters and other advanced aircraft as a temporary measure until its indigenous fifth-generation KAAN becomes operational.
“We discussed ongoing negotiations with the Qatari and Omani sides regarding the purchase of Eurofighter combat aircraft,” Erdogan stated on October 23, returning from a Gulf tour that included Qatar and Oman.
It is worth noting that in July, Turkey and the United Kingdom signed a preliminary agreement for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The Eurofighter Typhoon — a 4.5-generation fighter — is produced by a consortium of four countries: the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
Each sale requires unanimous approval from all member states. Germany, however, has repeatedly blocked Eurofighter sales to Turkey over human rights concerns.
Even for the purchase of used Eurofighters, Turkey must obtain approval from all four consortium members.
According to Reuters, the consortium — the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain — is expected to approve the sale of second-hand aircraft, under which Qatar and Oman would transfer 28 new fighters to Turkey over the coming years, pending final deal approval.
Erdogan is expected to host UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later this month, when the agreements may be finalized.
Meanwhile, Turkey — a NATO member — is also seeking reentry into the F-35 program, from which it was expelled in 2019. Ankara is trying to secure a presidential waiver from the CAATSA sanctions imposed after the S-400 purchase.
Sources say that although both the U.S. and Turkey want to resolve the CAATSA issue, Erdogan made no progress during his September meeting with Trump at the White House.
The Turkish president’s efforts to appease both Trump and Germany, while pleading with Qatar and Oman for used aircraft, highlight Ankara’s growing concern about losing its airpower advantage in a region rife with tensions and suspicion.
The F-35 vs S-400 comparison
Turkey has two primary regional rivals: Israel and Greece.
On one hand, Israel already operates a customized version of the F-35, known as the F-35 Adir, and has taken delivery of 46 aircraft. It has contracts for a total of 75 F-35Is, with the remaining 29 due by 2030.
On the other hand, Greece has not yet received its F-35s. Deliveries are expected to begin in late 2028 (first batch) and complete by 2030. The Hellenic Air Force has officially ordered 20 F-35A jets, worth $3.5 billion, with an option for 20 more.
In addition, Greece operates 24 Dassault Rafale F3R fighters with the 332 Squadron “Hawk” based in Tanagra.
Over the past two years, Israel has conducted strikes across Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and Qatar. Turkey fears it could be next, having supported Hamas diplomatically, financially, and militarily for years.
Turkish and Israeli interests are also clashing increasingly in Syria. Iran possesses Russian air defense systems, while Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East along with advanced American air defenses.
Despite these defenses, Israel has struck its targets with little resistance, heightening Ankara’s anxiety.
Turkey has concluded that it cannot wait years for the KAAN to become operational. It needs an interim solution to maintain credible deterrence against Israel and Greece.
Officials have said the country plans to acquire a total of 120 fighters — 40 Eurofighters, 40 U.S. F-16s, and 40 F-35s — as a transitional fleet until the KAAN enters service.
A costly lesson
An air defense system cannot be directly compared to a stealth fighter jet.
The former is defensive, designed to deny air superiority to an adversary and protect against drones and missiles.
The latter is offensive, built to penetrate and strike in heavily defended airspace.
Both systems — S-400 and F-35 — have been battle-tested.
The S-400 has been used in Ukraine, reportedly downing F-16s, and in India, where it is credited with the longest-range shootdown in history (nearly 300 km). Impressed, India is reportedly considering doubling its order.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 remains the most produced and sought-after fifth-generation fighter globally. It proved its worth during the recent Israel–Iran conflict, where Israeli F-35I Adirs carried out deep strikes inside Iran without losses.
During Operation Midnight Hammer, F-35s and F-22s led B-2 bomber missions, securing air superiority and suppressing enemy air defenses.
As Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet noted, F-35s “flew virtually undetected” in heavily defended airspace, showcasing their advanced stealth and electronic warfare capabilities. The F-35 demonstrated its ability to locate, neutralize, and destroy systems like the Russian S-400, blinding radars and opening corridors for massive strikes.
Determining which system — S-400 or F-35 — truly holds the upper hand is complex.
What is clear, however, is that Turkey is desperate to rejoin the F-35 program.
The big question remains: Was Erdogan’s decision to buy the Russian S-400 worth all this trouble?
Eight years later, the Turkish president may have realized that he greatly overestimated his options — and now finds himself shopping for second-hand jets.
www.bankingnews.gr
How Turkey got trapped
In 2017, despite strict U.S. warnings, Turkey decided to acquire the Russian S-400 air defense system. At the time, the move was hailed domestically as a bold statement that sent a clear message to Washington: Turkey had alternatives.
The U.S. reaction was swift and unforgiving. Turkey, a member of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program since 1999, was expelled from it.
Ankara, however, projected confidence. It declared plans to develop its own stealth fighter, the KAAN, and upgrade its large fleet of F-16s domestically. Turkish officials even claimed that, in the near future, other countries would buy the KAAN instead of the F-35, and that many would turn to Turkey for F-16 upgrades.
For a few years, this policy seemed to be working. From Saudi Arabia and the UAE to Qatar and Pakistan, several nations expressed interest in the KAAN. Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) also entered talks with Islamabad to modernize Pakistan’s 74 F-16s.
Yet, eight years after that fateful decision, Turkey’s strategy appears to be collapsing at supersonic speed. The bill has come due for President Erdogan. In a move described as “strategic”, but one that reveals Ankara’s growing anxiety over the loss of air superiority in the region, Erdogan is visiting several Middle Eastern capitals to purchase used fighter jets.
Instead of closing export deals for the KAAN, the Turkish president is now asking for second-hand European aircraft — a stark reversal of his earlier ambitions.
Erdogan once sought to show the U.S. that Ankara had options. Eight years later, those “options” include knocking on the doors of Middle Eastern countries — nations Turkey once viewed as militarily and technologically inferior — to buy their used jets.
Turning to used Eurofighters
Turkey is in talks with Qatar and Oman to acquire used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets, as part of efforts to boost its air force capabilities, President Erdogan said last week.
Ankara plans to procure dozens of Eurofighters and other advanced aircraft as a temporary measure until its indigenous fifth-generation KAAN becomes operational.
“We discussed ongoing negotiations with the Qatari and Omani sides regarding the purchase of Eurofighter combat aircraft,” Erdogan stated on October 23, returning from a Gulf tour that included Qatar and Oman.
It is worth noting that in July, Turkey and the United Kingdom signed a preliminary agreement for the sale of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The Eurofighter Typhoon — a 4.5-generation fighter — is produced by a consortium of four countries: the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy.
Each sale requires unanimous approval from all member states. Germany, however, has repeatedly blocked Eurofighter sales to Turkey over human rights concerns.
Even for the purchase of used Eurofighters, Turkey must obtain approval from all four consortium members.
According to Reuters, the consortium — the UK, Germany, Italy, and Spain — is expected to approve the sale of second-hand aircraft, under which Qatar and Oman would transfer 28 new fighters to Turkey over the coming years, pending final deal approval.
Erdogan is expected to host UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz later this month, when the agreements may be finalized.
Meanwhile, Turkey — a NATO member — is also seeking reentry into the F-35 program, from which it was expelled in 2019. Ankara is trying to secure a presidential waiver from the CAATSA sanctions imposed after the S-400 purchase.
Sources say that although both the U.S. and Turkey want to resolve the CAATSA issue, Erdogan made no progress during his September meeting with Trump at the White House.
The Turkish president’s efforts to appease both Trump and Germany, while pleading with Qatar and Oman for used aircraft, highlight Ankara’s growing concern about losing its airpower advantage in a region rife with tensions and suspicion.
The F-35 vs S-400 comparison
Turkey has two primary regional rivals: Israel and Greece.
On one hand, Israel already operates a customized version of the F-35, known as the F-35 Adir, and has taken delivery of 46 aircraft. It has contracts for a total of 75 F-35Is, with the remaining 29 due by 2030.
On the other hand, Greece has not yet received its F-35s. Deliveries are expected to begin in late 2028 (first batch) and complete by 2030. The Hellenic Air Force has officially ordered 20 F-35A jets, worth $3.5 billion, with an option for 20 more.
In addition, Greece operates 24 Dassault Rafale F3R fighters with the 332 Squadron “Hawk” based in Tanagra.
Over the past two years, Israel has conducted strikes across Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, Yemen, and Qatar. Turkey fears it could be next, having supported Hamas diplomatically, financially, and militarily for years.
Turkish and Israeli interests are also clashing increasingly in Syria. Iran possesses Russian air defense systems, while Qatar hosts the largest U.S. military base in the Middle East along with advanced American air defenses.
Despite these defenses, Israel has struck its targets with little resistance, heightening Ankara’s anxiety.
Turkey has concluded that it cannot wait years for the KAAN to become operational. It needs an interim solution to maintain credible deterrence against Israel and Greece.
Officials have said the country plans to acquire a total of 120 fighters — 40 Eurofighters, 40 U.S. F-16s, and 40 F-35s — as a transitional fleet until the KAAN enters service.
A costly lesson
An air defense system cannot be directly compared to a stealth fighter jet.
The former is defensive, designed to deny air superiority to an adversary and protect against drones and missiles.
The latter is offensive, built to penetrate and strike in heavily defended airspace.
Both systems — S-400 and F-35 — have been battle-tested.
The S-400 has been used in Ukraine, reportedly downing F-16s, and in India, where it is credited with the longest-range shootdown in history (nearly 300 km). Impressed, India is reportedly considering doubling its order.
Meanwhile, Lockheed Martin’s F-35 remains the most produced and sought-after fifth-generation fighter globally. It proved its worth during the recent Israel–Iran conflict, where Israeli F-35I Adirs carried out deep strikes inside Iran without losses.
During Operation Midnight Hammer, F-35s and F-22s led B-2 bomber missions, securing air superiority and suppressing enemy air defenses.
As Lockheed Martin CEO Jim Taiclet noted, F-35s “flew virtually undetected” in heavily defended airspace, showcasing their advanced stealth and electronic warfare capabilities. The F-35 demonstrated its ability to locate, neutralize, and destroy systems like the Russian S-400, blinding radars and opening corridors for massive strikes.
Determining which system — S-400 or F-35 — truly holds the upper hand is complex.
What is clear, however, is that Turkey is desperate to rejoin the F-35 program.
The big question remains: Was Erdogan’s decision to buy the Russian S-400 worth all this trouble?
Eight years later, the Turkish president may have realized that he greatly overestimated his options — and now finds himself shopping for second-hand jets.
www.bankingnews.gr
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