Turkey and Russia Reach Final Stages of Talks for Su-35 Sale - Reports

Following on from a $2.5 billion contract to acquire Russian S-400 surface to air missile systems, Turkey’s armed forces have set their sights on acquiring high end Russian fighter jets. The Su-35 Flanker, a ‘4++ generation’ air superiority fighter which is currently the most capable in Russian frontline service, has gained particularly strong interest from Ankara and the Turkish armed forces. The platform has demonstrated its advanced capabilities in neighbouring Syria where it has been deployed from early 2016. A report by a senior Turkish official on condition of anonymity indicates that the two countries have reached an “advanced stage of negotiations,” stating: “The talks have quite matured… A deal does not appear to be too distant.” According to the source, it was expected that Turkey would purchase two squadrons of fighters each comprised of around two dozen jets. This would make Turkey by far the largest operator of the Su-35 outside Russia, with China currently operating a single squadron of 24 and Indonesia set to acquire 11 of the aircraft. Egypt has reportedly entered advanced stages of talks to purchase around two dozen fighters for its own armed forces.

Turkey was previously set to become the largest foreign operator of the American F-35A fifth generation fighter outside the United States, a single engine lightweight platform which began to enter service in 2015. The aircraft is still far from fully combat ready however, and with the U.S. offering Turkey a heavily downgraded version of the aircraft due to an Israeli request its attractiveness began to wane as relations with the Western Bloc soured from 2016. Turkey has shown considerable interest in two other Russian fighter designs, the heavier and more advanced Su-57 which entered serial production in Russia in July 2019 and the lighter but less costly MiG-35 which entered frontline service from June 2019. It is possible that Turkey will look to place a far larger order for Russian fighters if it is satisfied with the performance of the Su-35, with a contract potentially including stipulations to manufacture fighters jointly and transfer technologies to Turkey’s own defence sector. The Su-35 has made a lasting impression in Turkey, leading the older F-16 which currently forms the mainstay of the country’s fleet to be widely termed ‘junk’ by comparison. A large acquisition would provide the Turkish Air Force with the heaviest and most advanced air superiority fighters anywhere in Europe or the Middle East.