"US Sends F-16 Decision for Turkey to Congress in a Flash"
US Approves Sale of F-16 Modernization Kits to Turkey
The US State Department has given approval for the sale of Link-16 modernization kits, which include the tactical data link (TDL) system, to Turkey for its F-16 warplanes. The sale comes amid negotiations between the two countries for the purchase of F-16 warplanes worth $20 billion, and 80 modernization kits, which were demanded by Turkey in October 2021.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the modernization kits contain radars and avionics and will be forwarded to Congress today. However, the sale is still subject to regulatory approvals by Congress. If approved, it will be the first major military sale to Turkey in years.
A spokesperson for the US State Department highlighted the importance of Turkey as a critical priority for NATO interoperability and stated that the country has deep defense and security ties with the United States.
The sale of the modernization kits comes at a time when Turkey is trying to upgrade its military equipment to meet its defense needs. The country has been seeking to acquire new warplanes for its air force, and the latest development is expected to further strengthen its defense capabilities.
