“We are talking about $ 1.4 billion that we paid for the F-35.
The USA, in response to this payment, made such an offer to us (for the purchase of the F-16. -
RT
).
We told them that we would do everything to provide our country with everything necessary for its defense.
We are working to ensure that our air fleet is always ready.
We are in a dialogue in order to solve this problem, "RIA Novosti quoted Erdogan as saying.
In 2019, Turkey was excluded from the F-35 fifth generation fighter program.
Turkish companies have participated in it since 2002 and supplied components.
This was done after Ankara's decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems.
As noted by Erdogan, Turkey intends to continue purchasing S-400 air defense systems from Russia, despite repeated warnings from the United States.