Türkiye wants to buy Russian Su-35 to replace F-35
The Ankara government is seriously considering buying Russian Su-35s to replace the F-35s that the US refused to deliver.
The Turkish government is considering the possibility of purchasing Russian Su-35 fighter jets at the proposal of Rosoboronexport, the sole state intermediary for the export and import of defense-related products, technologies and services, the Yeni Safak daily reported.
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Su-35 flies with T-50. |
According to Yeni Safak, the Ankara government has asked the Defense Industry Presidency (SSB), the Turkish Air Force Command and other relevant organizations to evaluate the idea. The daily added that if the plan to buy Russian jets receives a positive response, formal negotiations with Russia on the matter will be green-lighted. Turkish officials have not yet commented on the report.
Russia's Rosoboronexport has offered to sell Su-35 fighter jets to Ankara amid reports that Türkiye may be considering such an option due to problems with the purchase of F-35s from the United States. Washington has suspended the program to supply and train Turkish pilots with F-35s after Ankara refused to comply with demands to abandon the contract on Russian S-400 air defense systems. The US claims that these systems could expose the F-35's weaknesses to Russia and has offered to sell Ankara Patriot missile systems instead.
