U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye Tom Barrack stated in Abu Dhabi that the “Russia hurdle” from Ankara’s S-400 purchase could be resolved within four to six months, potentially restoring Türkiye’s access to F-35 stealth fighters.
On December 5, 2025, U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye, Tom Barrack, indicated that Ankara may be only months away from resolving the long-standing dispute over its Russian S-400 air-defense system, which has blocked its participation in the F-35 fighter jet program, according to Bloomberg and Turkish media outlets GDH and Türkiye Today. Speaking at a conference in Abu Dhabi, Barrack said the “Russia hurdle” could be cleared within four to six months if remaining issues regarding the S-400 are satisfactorily addressed to Washington. Resolving the issue could reopen the path for Türkiye to regain access to the F-35 stealth fighter program, while Ankara continues to modernize its air capabilities through an £8 billion Eurofighter Typhoon deal and the domestic KAAN fighter rollout.
Barrack emphasized that the S-400 remains the primary barrier. He told participants that Türkiye has resolved the “operability” issue because the S-400 batteries are not actively used, but that retaining the system continues to create complications for Washington. When asked whether Ankara was moving closer to relinquishing the Russian system, Barrack replied in the affirmative, suggesting progress could occur within the next four to six months.
The dispute began roughly a decade ago when Türkiye procured the S-400, leading to its suspension and eventual removal from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, along with targeted sanctions on its defense sector. Washington has argued that operating an advanced Russian air-defense system alongside the F-35 could expose sensitive jet data, while Ankara has maintained that the S-400 would remain outside NATO command-and-control networks and that technical safeguards could mitigate the risk.
Financial and fleet realities underscore the dispute. Before its removal, Türkiye planned to acquire 100 F-35A Lightning II aircraft and had invested approximately $1.4 billion in the program. At least four Turkish-configured F-35As were produced and rolled out from Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility, with the first flight in 2018; these aircraft were assigned to U.S. bases for training and never delivered to Türkiye. The United States has since absorbed these jets into its fleet. Analysts estimate that up to six aircraft were fully or partially funded by Ankara, highlighting practical questions about existing airframes and sunk costs if Türkiye were to return to the program.
Türkiye had also been part of the F-35 industrial supply chain, producing components even after its removal. Re-entry would therefore require new agreements on workshare, production orders, and integration responsibilities. Barrack’s four-to-six-month horizon is seen as a window to address the fate of the S-400 batteries, outstanding financial claims, and the potential pathway for Türkiye to resume participation or receive compensation for previous F-35 investments, while maintaining allied security assurances.
Meanwhile, Türkiye has ensured its airpower remains robust. On October 27, 2025, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer oversaw the signing of a £8 billion deal for 20 new Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, with first deliveries expected around 2030. The Typhoon provides advanced capabilities, including Captor-E AESA radar, expanded weapons integration, and electronic warfare features, allowing air superiority and deep-strike missions. Reports indicate that Türkiye may pursue additional second-hand Typhoons to accelerate pilot training and maintain fleet readiness. The Eurofighter is explicitly viewed as a bridge platform until the domestic KAAN stealth fighter achieves operational capability.
The KAAN program, a twin-engine fifth-generation fighter developed by Turkish Aerospace Industries, had its maiden flight in early 2024. Ankara plans to deliver an initial batch of approximately 20 Block 10 aircraft to the Turkish Air Force by 2028–2029, with full-scale production and operational capability targeted for the early 2030s. KAAN is intended to replace the F-16 as the backbone of Türkiye’s fighter fleet and serve as an indigenous complement to any imported jets.
Any return to the F-35 program would require Ankara to balance three capability pillars: a small but advanced Typhoon fleet, the larger domestic KAAN line, and potential future F-35 aircraft. Budgetary constraints and NATO interoperability requirements will guide these decisions. If the current four-to-six-month window results in a resolution on the S-400 and the handling of previously funded F-35 airframes, Türkiye could emerge with a reconfigured airpower posture, combining domestic and allied platforms to reinforce NATO’s presence in the Black Sea and Eastern Mediterranean while preserving strategic autonomy.
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