The Washington Examiner has labeled the potential sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey a “serious strategic mistake.” In a recent article, the conservative outlet criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s reported consideration of selling F110 jet engines to Ankara — a move it described as commercially sensible but politically distinct from re-admitting Turkey into the F-35 program.
A Clear Distinction
The publication emphasized a critical difference between exporting F110 engines — intended for use in Turkey’s next-generation indigenous fighter aircraft — and allowing Ankara back into the F-35 program. The latter would spark strong opposition across Washington: in Congress, at the Pentagon, and among key U.S. allies including Greece, Cyprus, and Israel.
Engines vs. Stealth Jets
According to the Examiner, selling F110 engines could serve as a diplomatic signal of continued U.S.-Turkish military cooperation — reinforcing Ankara’s incentive to pursue stability in the Eastern Mediterranean. However, delivering F-35s would be an entirely different matter. Greece and Israel, both already F-35 operators, hold a clear air-power advantage over Turkey. Yet granting Ankara access to the stealth platform wouldn’t be a concession — especially given President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s record.
Erdoğan’s Record Raises Concerns
The article notes Erdoğan’s authoritarian turn, citing his 2017 order for Turkish security personnel to assault protesters outside the Turkish embassy in Washington during his official visit. It also references his detention of American citizens — including Pastor Andrew Brunson — as political leverage, and Turkey’s 2017 purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems, widely viewed as a breach of NATO interoperability and trust.
The S-400 Problem
The presence of S-400 systems in Turkey remains the central reason why F-35 integration is deemed unacceptable. Moscow could exploit the proximity of the two systems to gather highly sensitive data on F-35 radar signatures and operational capabilities — information that could then be shared with China, Iran, or North Korea.