The U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification, notifying Congress of this possible sale on January 26, 2024. The move followed Turkiye’s positive decision about Sweden. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan approved Sweden’s accession to NATO the day before.
Türkiye has requested to buy 40 new F-16 aircraft and to modernise 79 existing F-16 aircraft to V-Configuration. The request includes: 32 F-16 C Block 70 aircraft; eight F-16 D Block 70 aircraft; 48 F110-GE-129D engines (40 installed, eight spares);
149 Improved Programmable Display Generators (iPDG) (40 installed, ten spares, 99 for modernisation program (79 installed, 20 spares)); 149AN/APG-83 Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) Scalable Agile Beam Radars (SABR) (40 installed, ten spares, 99 for modernization program (79 installed, 20 spares)); 169 Modular Mission Computers (MMC) 7000AHC (or available mission computer) (40 installed, ten spares, 119 for modernization program (79 installed, 40 spares)); 159 Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation Systems (INS) (EGI) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) or M-Code capability and Precise Positioning Service (PPS) (40 installed, eight spares, 111 for modernisation program (79 installed, 32 spares)); 168 Integrated Viper Electronic Warfare Suite (IVEWS) or equivalent Electronic Warfare (EW) systems (40 installed, eight spares, 118 for modernization program (79 installed, 39 spares)); eight hundred fifty-eight (858) LAU-129 guided missile launchers; forty-four (44) M61 Vulcan cannons (40 installed, four spares); sixteen (16) AN/AAQ-33 Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods (ATP); one hundred fifty-one (151) Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS-JTRS) (40 installed and four ground terminals, eight spares, and 99 for modernization program (79 installed and four ground terminals, 16 spares)); 952 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) AIM-120C-8 or equivalent missiles; 96 AMRAAM guidance sections; 864 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs Increment 1 (SDB-1); two GBU-39(T-1)/B SDB-1 guided test vehicles; two GBU-39(T-1)/B SDB-1 practice bombs; 96 AGM-88B High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missiles (HARM); 96 AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM); ten AARGM Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM); 11 AARGM control sections; 12 AARGM guidance sections; 401 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder missiles; 12 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Captive Air Training Missiles (CATMs); 40 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder tactical guidance units; 12 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder CATM guidance units; 12 MK82 Inert Filled general purpose bombs; 850 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) KMU-556 tail kits for GBU-31; 200 JDAM KMU-557 tail kits for GBU-31v3; 384 JDAM KMU-559 tail kits for GBU-32; three JDAM KMU-572 tail kits for GBU-38 or Laser JDAM GBU-54; 1,050 FMU-152 fuses. Also included are AMRAAM CATMs; AIM-9X Sidewinder training missiles and Active Optical Target Detectors (AOTD); HARM control sections, rocket motors, and warhead spares; FMU-139 Joint Programmable Fuses; DSU-38 Laser Guidance Sets for GBU-54; missile containers; AN/ARC-238 radios; AN/APX-127 or equivalent Advanced Identification Friend or Foe (AIFF) Combined Interrogator Transponders (CIT) with mode 5; Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS) II or Scorpion Hybrid Optical-based Inertial Tracker (HObIT) helmet mounted displays; Infrared Search and Track (IRST) pods; AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Systems (CMDS); KY-58 and KIV-78 cryptographic devices; Simple Key Loaders (SKLs); additional secure communications, precision navigation, and cryptographic equipment; Flight Mission Planning Systems (FMPS); Remote Operated Video Enhanced Receivers (ROVER) 6i/6Sis; Tactical Network ROVER kits, and STINGER Multi Bi-Directional (MBI) antennas; SNIPER pod pylons; impulse cartridges, chaff, flares, and ammunition; bomb components and Common Munitions Built-in-Test Reprogramming Equipment (CMBRE); Rackmount Improved Avionics Intermediate Shop (RIAIS); Cartridge Actuated Devices/Propellant Actuated Devices (CAD/PAD); Triple Missile Launcher Adapters (TMLA); aircraft, avionics, and weapons integration, test support, and equipment; major modernization upgrade kits for F-16 Block 40 and Block 50+ aircraft and Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) modifications; aircraft and engine repair and refurbishment after maintenance; engine and aircraft spare and repair parts, consumables, and accessories and repair and return support; aircraft, engine, ground, and pilot support equipment; Classified/Unclassified Computer Program Identification Number (CPIN) systems; electronic warfare database support; pylons, launcher adaptors, weapon interfaces, bomb and ejection racks, conformal fuel tanks, and travel pods; precision measurement equipment laboratory and calibration support; Classified/Unclassified software and software support; Classified/Unclassified publications, manuals, and technical documentation; maps and mapping data; facilities and construction support; simulators and training devices; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, studies and surveys; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost is $23.0 billion.
The DSCA stated that the proposed sale would allow Türkiye to expand and modernise 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 modernised multi-role combat aircraft to enable it to provide for the defence of its airspace, contribute to NATO missions to preserve regional security and defend NATO Allies, and maintain interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces.
The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin, Greenville, SC. Turkiye also requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
TurDef expects that the payment that Turkiye has made for F-35 would be part of F-16 acquisition negotiations. Turkiye has paid approximately $ 2 billion before the country was in the F-35 Programme. U.S.’s previous practice with Pakistan shows that the U.S. would park the aircraft and ask Turkiye to make a payment. The U.S. might deduct the payment from the debt.
