The F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter may finally receive the colors of the Turkish Air Force. In an interview with CNN Turk, the United States Deputy Secretary of State said it would be a pleasure to welcome Turkey back to the 'radar invisible' fighter program. 

The speech by Victoria Nuland, number two in the department, comes days after the Department approved the billion-dollar sale of F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. Valued at US$23 billion, the possible sale was dependent on Turkey's ratification of Sweden's entry into NATO. However, the two movements still need final approvals, from the US Congress in the case of the planes, and the signature of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the Swedes to join the military Alliance. 

Ankara's possible return to the program would mark a turning point. But it still depends on resolving the same issue that resulted in his expulsion in 2019: Russian S-400 missiles. 

“If the S-400 issue is resolved, sanctions will be lifted and we will talk about Turkey's return to the F-35 program. Frankly, if we can resolve this S-400 issue, which we want to do, the United States would be happy to welcome Turkey back into the F-35 family.”, he emphasized. 

A member of NATO since 1952 and one of the United States' main partners, Turkey embarked on the F-35 program in July 2002, becoming the project's seventh international partner. In addition to producing parts for the aircraft, part of the 100 fighters that would be acquired by the country would be assembled locally by Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), similar to what occurred with the purchase of the F-16s.

The big problems began in 2018, when the US Congress blocked the sale of the F-35 to Turkey due to negotiations with Russia over the purchase of S-400 anti-aircraft missiles. It was alleged that the operation of the Russian system would put sensitive data about the aircraft at risk, harming the program and other operators. 

Even so, Ankara went ahead with the purchase of the missiles. After the delivery of the first units in 2019, Turkey was officially banned from the project, after having invested around US$195 million, including signing the purchase of six aircraft. 

Victoria Nuland, Acting US Deputy Secretary of State:

If we can resolve the S-400 issue, which we want to do. The US would be happy to welcome Türkiye back into the F-35 family.

If we can overcome this issue, the CAATSA issue will disappear and we can go back to the F-35… pic.twitter.com/d8oNBd0uMg

- Clash Report (@clashreport) January 30, 2024

To overcome the problem, the country decided to acquire more F-16 fighters, since it already has the third largest fleet of the model. Once again, the US government delayed sales due to disputes between Turkey and Greece, the rapprochement with Russia and Azerbaijan and the country's conduct in the Syrian Civil War. 

According to The War Zone, Türkiye's potential return to the F-35 program was unexpected. “With F-16s already on offer and a local fighter program well underway, Turkey now has to decide what it wants its future combat fleet to look like and is also happy to trade the capabilities of the S-400 for the F-35. XNUMX”, observe the portal.