Turkey and the United States have finalized a contract for the sale of F-16 warplanes, valued at $23 billion, following extensive negotiations. The agreement includes the purchase of 40 new F-16s and upgrades for 79 existing jets in Turkey’s fleet.
The State Department praised the deal as a significant advancement in Turkey’s acquisition of advanced F-16 fighter jets, emphasizing the enduring security partnership between the two nations. The agreement was notified to Congress in January, along with a separate $8.6 billion sale of 40 F-35s to Greece.
The transaction was delayed until Turkey’s ratification of Sweden’s NATO membership, which was completed in January. Turkish President Erdogan is expected to attend the NATO leaders’ summit in Washington next month, following the postponement of his scheduled meeting with US President Joe Biden due to scheduling conflicts.
