The US State Department sent the Congress an official notification regarding the sale of 40 F-16 fighters of Turkey and sets of modernization of existing fighters.
In particular, the American Foreign Policy Department sent to Congress an official notification of approval of the sale of Turkey 40 F-16 Block 70 fighters and 79 sets of F-16 modernization, the agency for cooperation in the field of US defense security.
The US State Department decided to approve the sale, modernization of the F-16 and related equipment to the Turkish Republic in the amount of about $ 23 billion, the message says.
The Agency for Cooperation in the field of defense security sent a corresponding certification to the Congress.
The message emphasizes that the sale of F-16 of Turkey is important in terms of NATO security and stability. In particular, we are talking about selling Ankara 40 new F-16 fighters and sets of modernization of already available 79 F-16, as well as related equipment.
In order for the sale to take place, it is necessary that the Congress does not follow the notification presented by the US administration.
Earlier, the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US Senate Ben Cardin announced his intention to approve the sale of Turkey F-16 fighters as soon as the corresponding notification from the White House is received.
“My approval of Turkish’s request to acquire F -16 aircraft depended on the approval of Sweden entry into NATO,” the senator noted, expressing satisfaction with the decision of Ankara to approve Sweden entry into the Alliance.
Cardin assured that the Committee will approve the sale of F-16 of Turkey, as soon as the White House sends an official notification.
The US Congress has 15 days to evaluate and objections after the official notice of the sale of F-16 of Turkey. If there is no objections, then the sale will be carried out.
According to the relevant legislation, the period under consideration is 15 days for NATO member countries and 30 days for countries that are not part of NATO.
Turkey requested the United States 40 new F-16 Block 70 fighters and sets for the modernization of 79 aircraft existing on its weapons.
Last year, some members of the Congress excluded from the bill on the budget of the US Department of Defense additional articles providing for the sale of F-16.