Baykar head hinted that the company may create a Turkish analogue of the F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet
Haluk Bayraktar, head of Baykar, has hinted that Turkey might get its own fighter jet.
Here's What We Know
After the United States refused to supply Turkey with Predator drones, Baykar developed the Bayraktar TB2 strike drone. Haluk Bayraktar wondered what the U.S. refusal to sell F-16 fighter jets could lead to.
Perhaps he thus hinted at the development of the Turkish aircraft. On Twitter, Baykar's CEO also posted a photo of the new Bayraktar Kizilelma drone. In news stories in the Western media, it often appears not just as a drone, but as an unmanned fighter jet.
The conflict between Turkey and the United States arose after Ankara decided to buy Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems. In this connection, the US excluded Turkey from the program for the development of the fifth generation fighter aircraft F-35 Lightning II.
In return, Turkey requested 40 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircrafts, but Congress blocked the sale a few months ago. Turkey has a chance to get the fighters if Joe Biden confirms that delivery of F-16s will strengthen the national security of the United States.
Meanwhile, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that not only the U.S. is selling planes. It is not excluded that Turkey will be able to buy Russian fighters Su-35 if an agreement with Washington is not reached. Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale are alternatives.
Source: @haluk
Image: Defense News