Ismail Demir, head of Turkey’s defense industry, said Ankara could buy Russian Su-35 and Su-57 aircraft if the United States freezes the sale of F-16s, RIA Novosti reported.
“If the process [sale of the US F-16] does not bring results, then Turkey will not be left without alternatives. If necessary, the subject of the Su-35 and Su-57 can be opened at any time. Our industry is doing everything to ensure our safety, and if something additional is needed, we can always find a way out”, Demir said on the air of the Kanal 7 TV channel.
Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the United States offered Ankara to purchase F-16 fighters after Turkey was excluded from the program for the production of the latest F-35 fighters.
According to the agency, the director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of Russia, Dmitry Shugaev, announced Russia’s readiness to negotiate with Ankara on the purchase of Su-35 and Su-57 fighters, if Turkey makes such a decision.