Summary Turkey may consider ditching the S-400 SAMs for F-35s to gain air superiority. Turkey aims to keep the S-400s but not activate them, suggesting that they be stored. Turkey has not used the S-400s acquired and is reportedly working on a new domestic defense system.
According to reports , Turkey may be willing to give up its Russian-made S-400 SAM systems to be readmitted back to the US-led F-35 fifth-generation fighter program . As a NATO member and host to one of the largest US Air Force bases in the Middle Eastern region, Turkey is a major US ally. However, the two nations are not without their (sometimes major) differences and arguments.
Turkey was a major participant in the F-35 fighter program, but the United States kicked it out, and it is now one of several countries that the US refuses to sell F-35s . Turkey may ditch Russia's S-400 SAMs for F-35s According to the Turkish news outlet Cumhuriyet , Turkey is seeking to resurrect the F-35 purchase. The publication states that Turkey has suggested that they would keep the S-400 but not activate them.
The Turkish offer is " Let's put them in boxes, and you [United States] check " (the S-400s remain stored in warehouses in Turkey). It is also possible Turkey will sell them off to another country like Pakistan. Cumhuriyet notes that Turkey is eager to gain air superiority over arch-rival (and fellow NATO ally) Greece.
Greece is purchasing 40 F-35s , meaning it will soon have much more capable combat aircraft than Turk.