Right On Schedule: More Evidence Of The Alliance To Come

Erdogan Not Ruling Out Purchasing Russia's Su-35, Su-57 Fighters Instead of US F-35 Jets

Following a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the MAKS-2019 International Air Show earlier this week, the Russian leader stated that Ankara and Moscow had discussed maintaining cooperation in defence, including on both fourth-generation Su-35 and fifth-generation Su-57 jets. Putin also noted that Turkey is interested not only in purchasing, but also in jointly producing weapons.

The Turkish president, on his way back to Turkey from Russia after visiting MAKS-2019, met with Putin and told reporters that he is not ruling out buying Russia's Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jets, CNN Turkey reported.

When asked by a reporter if the Su-35 and Su-57 warcraft were among alternatives to the US F-35, the Turkish president responded, "Why not? We didn't come here in vain."

The Turkish president talked to journalists on board his plane enroute to Ankara after an official visit to Russia where he attended an international MAKS aviation show in which fighter jets are showcased.

While speaking with reporters, the Turkish president said that by participating in the MAKS-2019 "we had the opportunity to get to know the new products of the sector."

He also remarked that he had invited Putin to visit the Teknofest Istanbul Aerospace and Technology Festival, to be held in Istanbul on 17-22 September, according to CNN Turk.