Turkey Expects Concrete Action from U.S. on F-16 Fighter Jet Delivery

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a Turkish government insider informed Ria Novosti that Ankara expects concrete and practical action from Washington concerning the shipment of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey.

The Turkish official highlighted that the funds for the purchase of the F-16 fighter jets have been remitted to the United States, yet the delivery of the consignment has not yet occurred. Consequently, negotiations are ongoing, and Ankara anticipates a positive outcome.

Turkey has been a primary operator of American F-16 fighter jets since the 1980s, acquiring a significant number of these aircraft over several decades and undertaking domestic production or upgrades for a portion of them. In January 2024, the U.S. Department of State approved the potential sale of 40 new F-16s, comprising 32 C-model and 8 D-model Block 70 aircraft, along with the modernization of 79 existing Turkish F-16s, with an estimated value of $23 billion. Ankara subsequently received the acceptance letter and confirmation of pre-order registration for this contract.