Türkiye plans to buy the necessary defense systems from NATO allies and other countries until its domestic fighter jet KAAN is ready for delivery, a Turkish Defense Ministry source said on Thursday.
Reuters reported on Wednesday that Ankara had proposed to its European allies and the United States ways it could swiftly procure advanced fighter jets amid talks to buy 40 Eurofighter Typhoons as well as US F-16s and F-35s, and as President Tayyip Erdogan holds a regional tour to Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.
A person familiar with the matter said that under a deal it is nearing with Britain on the Typhoons, Türkiye would promptly receive 12 of them, albeit used, from previous buyers Qatar and Oman to meet its immediate needs.
Asked about the reports amid Erdogan's trip, the source said work on procuring the Typhoon jets continued and the process, which Ankara is running with Britain, was expected to be completed "in an appropriate time."
"Until our domestic and national fighter jet KAAN's deliveries start, the systems required to complete the tasks assigned to the Turkish Armed Forces are planned to be procured from relevant countries, primarily our allies," the source told a briefing in Ankara.