Col. (res.) Uzi Dayan warned that the combination of Turkey's existing air-defense missile batteries with potential F-35 stealth fighters poses a serious threat, but said he believes the U.S. will ultimately not approve the transfer, citing Washington's past decision to block the sale.
Col. (res.) Uzi Dayan addressed the growing concern in Israel regarding reports that Turkey may regain access to the U.S. F-35 stealth fighter program, a move that has drawn sharp opposition from Jerusalem. In remarks distributed by Channel 14 on Tuesday, Dayan said he believes the transfer will not go through. "We must remember why America previously denied them the option to receive the jets," Dayan said, noting that Turkey already possesses anti-aircraft missile batteries. "The combination of the two is dangerous," he said.
Dayan's assessment comes amid a flurry of Israeli warnings at the political and defense levels. As The Zioneer has reported in recent days, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ambassador to the U.S. Yechiel Leiter, and analyst Sraya Harush have each voiced opposition to restoring Turkey's F-35 eligibility, citing threats to Israel's air superiority and regional stability. Trump administration reports of a renewed push to advance the sale have triggered bipartisan criticism in Congress, though the chances of lawmakers blocking the deal are assessed as slim.
The Pentagon removed Turkey from the F-35 program in 2019 after Ankara acquired the Russian S-400 air-defense system, which Washington said could compromise stealth technology. Turkey has since signaled it wants back in. Dayan's position mirrors the Israeli defense establishment's stated stance: the sale should be blocked to prevent the convergence of advanced strike aircraft with Russian-made air-defense systems in the hands of a hostile power.
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