US Open to Selling F-15 Fighter Jets to Türkiye: A Possible Alternative if Eurofighter Deal Fails.

According to information from TurDef on October 3, 2024, defense relations between Türkiye and the U.S. could take a significant turn with the potential sale of F-15 fighter jets to Ankara. When asked about the possibility of Türkiye acquiring Boeing F-15C Eagle or F-15EX Eagle II fighters, U.S. sources expressed openness to the idea, stating, "We would love to sell our jets to Türkiye." However, the same sources clarified that no meetings or official requests have taken place regarding the potential sale of F-15s.

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An F-15C Eagle assigned to the 44th Fighter Squadron returns from a training sortie at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 20, 2022 (Picture source: US DoD)

Interest in the F-15s has emerged as Türkiye explores alternatives to its previous plans to acquire Russian fighter jets and its more recent focus on the Eurofighter Typhoon, a deal supported by the United Kingdom. However, reports indicate that Germany, a partner in the Eurofighter program, may oppose the acquisition behind the scenes, raising concerns that the deal could fail. In such a scenario, the F-15s could become a viable option for Türkiye.

While the U.S. is open to the sale of these aircraft, any such transaction would likely be contingent on resolving the ongoing issue surrounding the S-400 air defense system, which Türkiye purchased from Russia in 2019. This acquisition led to the imposition of CAATSA (Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions and Türkiye’s removal from the F-35 program. Under U.S. law, specifically the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021 and Section 1241 of CAATSA, sanctions can only be lifted if Türkiye relinquishes the S-400 systems, removes Russian personnel involved in their maintenance, and guarantees that it will not attempt to reacquire them in the future. Without these assurances, progress in negotiations for F-15 sales would remain stalled.

The S-400 issue continues to be a major obstacle in U.S.-Turkish defense relations. Recently, Greek media reported that the U.S. proposed stationing the S-400 systems at Incirlik Air Base in Türkiye to bypass the impasse. This suggestion was firmly rejected by Ankara, which refuses any relocation of the S-400 systems. U.S. sources confirmed that this idea would not resolve the underlying issue, as the U.S. requires full compliance with CAATSA and NDAA provisions to lift the sanctions.

An F-15EX Eagle II from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53rd Wing, takes flight for the first time out of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., April 26, 2021 (Picture source: US DoD)

Despite these challenges, there is cautious optimism about a possible post-CAATSA era in U.S.-Turkish defense relations. U.S. sources believe that, once sanctions are lifted, opportunities for cooperation could expand, particularly in the defense industry. "There is a lot of potential for deeper cooperation in this field, as we know Turkish defense companies employ highly skilled engineers and produce excellent equipment," one source noted. The source also mentioned potential interest in exploring the integration of Turkish products into U.S. platforms, depending on how the situation evolves.

In the meantime, negotiations are underway for a $23 billion deal between Türkiye and the U.S. as part of a modernization program for the Turkish F-16 fleet. This deal includes the acquisition of AIM-120 C-8 AMRAAM missiles, AN/APG-83 AESA SABR radars, as well as other weapons such as GBU-39/B bombs, AGM-88B and AGM-88E missiles, AIM-9X Block II missiles, and JDAM kits. These discussions, initially expected to conclude in June, are still ongoing, partly due to the complexity of the CAATSA-related issues.

Additionally, questions remain about the F-35 program, from which Türkiye was excluded. Six F-35 jets originally intended for Türkiye remain stored at U.S. air bases, where they are regularly maintained. U.S. sources have declined to provide details on the storage costs but confirmed that the jets are kept operational. Regarding the possibility of Türkiye rejoining the F-35 program, the option is still on the table, although current political and legal conditions have yet to allow progress in this direction.