Israel fears Turkey could circumvent F-35 limits if sale proceeds

Israeli defense officials express concern that Turkey could circumvent U.S. restrictions on F-35 fighter jets if a sale is approved, potentially altering the regional military balance. Unlike the UAE and Saudi Arabia, which reportedly dropped F-35 purchase interest due to imposed limits, Israeli experts believe Turkey's advanced military technology and aviation experience might enable it to overcome such constraints.

While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has broadly cited concerns about upsetting the regional balance of power, Israeli defense officials are more specific. They fear that if Turkey were to acquire F-35s, it could potentially share sensitive information, such as tracking capabilities, with adversaries like Syria or Iran. This scenario could severely limit Israel's ability to conduct pre-emptive strikes against emerging threats, including ballistic missiles or nuclear weapons programs.

Such a development would be particularly concerning given Turkey's role in supporting the new Syrian ruler, Ahmad al-Sharaa, suggesting a potential for cooperation with Damascus. While direct military action against Israel by Turkey is considered unlikely, the prospect of its F-35 technology falling into the hands of regional rivals poses a significant strategic threat.

Currently, U.S. legislation prohibits the sale of F-35s to countries operating Russian air defense platforms, such as Turkey's S-400 system. This restriction is intended to prevent adversaries from gaining insights into the F-35's capabilities. However, Israeli officials worry that if the sale proceeds, Turkey might find ways to bypass these limitations, thereby undermining U.S. security interests and regional stability.