China's domestically developed fifth-generation fighter is being held back by U.S. technology restrictions, while Turkey prepares to abandon the S-400?
Initially, the United States expelled Turkey from the F-35 program due to its purchase of the S-400 missile system; now, Turkey is reportedly considering selling its S-400 systems to regain access to the F-35 program.
Recently, Turkey’s newspaper Freedom Daily revealed that discussions have begun within Turkey about potentially selling its S-400 systems to a Gulf state in order to rejoin the F-35 program.
The immediate context for these discussions stems from a recent shift in U.S. stance toward allowing Turkey to return to the F-35 project—on the 7th, Trump stated that the U.S. would lift sanctions against Turkey and “make a decision regarding Turkey’s return to the F-35 fighter program.”
Evidently, if Turkey truly returns to the F-35 program, it must first “deal with” its existing S-400 systems—a core condition demanded by the United States.
After years of resistance, Turkey’s sudden willingness to trade the S-400 for the F-35 may be linked to the progress of its domestically developed fifth-generation fighter, the “Kaan.” Although officially touted as Turkey’s indigenous design, the Kaan is largely assembled using Western technologies—particularly in propulsion and avionics systems, where it remains heavily dependent on American components.
Thus, the ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Turkey over the F-35 and S-400 fundamentally reflect a long-standing struggle between national defense autonomy and alliance compatibility. The Kaan’s reliance on the U.S.-made F110-GE-129 engine has intensified this tension—disposing of the S-400 is not merely a precondition for acquiring the F-35, but also a strategic move to unlock crucial American technical support for Turkey’s own fighter development program.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870414672361482/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.