Türkiye receives F-16 draft offer from US in $23 bln deal

Türkiye is moving closer to acquiring a fleet of F-16 fighter jets from the United States as the draft offer and acceptance letters have been officially received, according to a defense ministry official.

The press and public relations adviser for the ministry, Zeki Aktürk, confirmed the development during a weekly briefing meeting on Feb. 29. "Our relevant units have started the necessary reviews and evaluations," he told reporters in the capital Ankara.

The finalized deal, valued at $23 billion, will see Türkiye acquiring 40 new F-16s alongside upgrades to 79 of its existing fleet, following the recent approval from the U.S. Congress. The 15-day objection period concluded on Feb. 10, clearing the path for the sale after the sole objection raised by Senator Rand Paul was addressed within the Senate's Foreign Relations Committee.

The absence of objections from the relevant committee in the House of Representatives further streamlined the process.

The ministry sources revealed that the Turkish and U.S. representatives will convene following the completion of their respective reviews. The agreement will be finalized after joint assessments, initiating the procurement process.

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has continued to explore alternative options during his official talks in the United Kingdom.

The minister discussed the potential procurement of Eurofighter jets, sources said. Germany, a key producer of the advanced jets, has not yet granted approval for the sales. Türkiye has identified Eurofighter jets as a viable alternative in response to potential challenges with the F-16 acquisition.

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