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Turkey is making significant strides in its discussions with the United States regarding a major program to acquire new F-16s and upgrade its older fleet, as reported by Greek media closely monitoring the process. According to Western analysts, Turkey is looking to cut costs due to financial constraints, all while pushing for more industrial advantages, as highlighted by Bloomberg.
Ankara appears to be negotiating a deal that involves purchasing fewer F-16 upgrade kits and reduced munitions. Additionally, it is seeking an offset agreement that would allow domestic production of F-16 components, aiming to lower the project’s cost from the originally estimated $23 billion. Ankara is also working to remove all US sanctions and restrictions on its defense industry.
Simultaneously, Turkey is enhancing its efforts to address Germany’s concerns over the potential sale of Eurofighter jets. The country is also interested in acquiring German warship engines and is keen on ensuring the supply of Siemens-made equipment for the Akuyu nuclear power plant. Consequently, Turkey is actively engaged in multiple negotiations with its defense and trade partners to forge a network of agreements that best serve its interests.
BulgarianMilitary.com highlights that after years of efforts to modernize its air force, Turkey inked a letter of offer and acceptance on June 13 to buy new F-16 fighters from the United States. This exciting milestone was confirmed by Turkey’s defense ministry and the U.S. Department of State.
Back in October 2021, Ankara put forward a request to acquire 40 F-16 Block 70/72 fighters. The goal was to replace the aging fleet of F-4E Phantoms and included 79 modernization kits to upgrade older F-16s to a similar standard.
Initially, there was some opposition to the sale in Washington, but recent diplomatic efforts have changed the tide. Turkey’s support for Swedish NATO membership and its solid backing of Ukraine against Russia have softened previous resistance. U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeffrey Flake lauded the deal, describing it as “beneficial for U.S. national security, Turkish national security, and NATO interoperability.”
Reflecting this positive outlook, State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel mentioned in January that “President Biden and Secretary Blinken have continually supported upgrading Turkey’s F-16 fleet, viewing it as a crucial investment in NATO interoperability.”
Today, Turkey holds the position of the largest foreign operator of the F-16 fighter jet, which first soared in 1974. However, the current variants in Turkey’s inventory are not exactly cutting-edge. These jets still use mechanically scanned array radars, leading to limited electronic warfare capabilities and situational awareness.
As a result, NATO’s Turkish fleet is significantly outmatched by the air forces of several key regional players. For example, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain possess more advanced F-16 variants. Additionally, Egypt and Syria fly enhanced MiG-29s equipped with phased array radars, while Iran is preparing to deploy Su-35s—a sophisticated fighter jet also used by Russian forces in Syria.
In mid-May, the Turkish Air Force put the accuracy of the LGK-82 and LGK-84 laser-guided aerial bombs to the test, using locally based F-16s as the delivery platform, as reported by TurkDef. Dropped from an altitude of 15,000 feet, these tests are part of an ongoing effort to enhance precision.
An interesting aspect of these trials is the use of F-16 fighters upgraded with a new Turkish mission computer, thanks to the domestic Ozgur program. This year, the Ozgur program achieved a major milestone with the successful integration of the Murad AESA radar. This advanced radar enhances the aircraft’s capabilities, enabling effective airborne air-to-air, air-to-ground, SAR, and electronic warfare functionalities.
Developed by Aselsan, the LGK-82 and LGK-84 are state-of-the-art laser guidance kits designed to boost the precision of conventional bombs. These kits transform unguided munitions into precision-guided weapons by adding crucial laser guidance components. These guidance kits are attached to the front of standard Mk-82 and Mk-84 bombs. The LGK-82 is designed for the 500-pound Mk-82 bomb, while the LGK-84 fits the 2,000-pound Mk-84 bomb.