The agreement, valued at a maximum of 23 billion USD, includes the sale of 40 aircraft (including 8 two-seaters), 8 spare F110-GE-129D engines, and 149 AN/APG-83 SABR radar stations (40 for new aircraft, 99 for upgrades, and 10 spares). Also included are 79 upgrade packages, 16 AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting pods, and a substantial arsenal: 952 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles, 864 GBU-39/B SDB-I bombs, 96 AGM-88B HARM missiles, 96 AGM-88E AARGM missiles, and 401 AIM-9X Sidewinder Block II missiles.
This comprehensive package now awaits the approval of the United States Congress, which has a 30-day period to issue any potential veto.
The modernization initiative aims to upgrade 79 Turkish aircraft, specifically those of the Block 40 and Block 50+ standards, and also includes extending the technical resources of these jets. The F-16C/D Fighting Falcons are the backbone of the Turkish Air Force’s multirole combat aircraft fleet, actively engaged in operational activities both within Turkey and abroad.
“The proposed sale will allow Türkiye to expand and modernize its fleet of F-16 aircraft as older F-16 aircraft approach the end of their service life. These new and refurbished aircraft will provide Türkiye with a fleet of modernized multi-role combat aircraft to enable it to provide for the defense of its airspace, contribute to NATO missions to preserve regional security and defend NATO Allies, and maintain interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces. Türkiye has F-16 aircraft in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft and services into its armed forces,” Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in statement.
