Turkey may consider acquiring Russian Su-57 aircraft if the U.S. Congress refuses to sell it F-16 fighter jets, Turkish newspaper Milliyet reported.
Ankara has requested from Washington 40 F-16 Block 70 fighter jets and 80 Block 70 upgrade kits for Turkish F-16s already in service. If this request is not approved, Ankara will start looking for alternatives, including Russian Su-57s.
Earlier, The U.S. administration in a letter to the Congress cited Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program as a “significant price paid” for Russia's S-400 purchase.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Sunday that the United States had proposed the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey in return for its investment in the F-35 programme.
