US Likely To Stop Delivery Of F-35s To Turkey

[Zarvan]

US' F-35 mutirole jet and Russia's S-400 anti-aircraft defense system

The United States (US) may stop the delivery of fifth-generation F-35 multirole jet to Turkey if Ankara persists on buying Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems.

It would be the strongest signal yet by Washington that Ankara cannot have both the US-made advanced aircraft and Russia’s S-400 air defense system, Reutersreported Thursday.

According to the US, it would be compromising the security of Lockheed Martin aircraft if Turkey has both, the American jet and Russian missile defense system.

"The S-400 is a computer. The F-35 is a computer. You don't hook your computer to your adversary's computer and that's basically what we would be doing," Katie Wheelbarger, acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told Reuters.

Ankara was set to begin deployment of the Russian systems this October and was expecting the delivery of F-35 jets in November, Turkish Defense Minister, Hulusi Akar had said.

The US has not taken a decision regarding stopping of the F-35s yet, but it is considering steps to halt the delivery of its aircraft to its NATO ally Turkey, the report added.

“There (are) decisions that come up constantly about things being delivered in anticipation of them eventually taking custody of the planes. So there’s a lot of things in train that can be paused to send signals to them (that we’re serious),” she added, without detailing those steps.

Another official however said that the US is looking at other options.

“The US is seeing if it is possible to have another alternative to the F-35 engine overhaul depot somewhere in Europe, that is currently based in Eskisehir, Turkey,” he said without giving any further details.



A decision to drop Turkey from the F-35 program would have broader repercussions, since Ankara helps manufacture parts for the aircraft, including components of the landing gear, cockpit displays and aircraft engines.

“If Turkey was removed from the F-35 program, it would be the most serious crisis in the relationship between the two allies in decades,” according to Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies said.

The strains on ties between Washington and Ankara already extend beyond the F-35 to include strategy in Syria, Iran sanctions and the detention of US consular staff.

America has also tried to persuade Turkey to buy Raytheon’s Patriot defense system, instead of S-400s.

“Turkey is still open to buying Patriot systems from the US but only if the conditions are suitable,” Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey had said.

http://www.defenseworld.net/news/24505/US_Likely_To_Stop_delivery_Of_F_35s_To_Turkey#.XJN4PSgzZPY

 

[Foxtrot Delta]

If they Americans do this to Turks, then they Americans are the most unreliable weapon suppliers or Allies/Friends one country could ever have.

They have done this to Pakistan and South Korea many times but we thought its because we are no. Nato countries and not as friendly.

But if Turkey is treated like this then All Nato and friendly countries towards USA should take note . American is Very Unreliable.

 

[LKJ86]

If they Americans do this to Turks, then they Americans are the most unreliable weapon suppliers or Allies/Friends one country could ever have.

They have done this to Pakistan and South Korea many times but we thought its because we are no. Nato countries and not as friendly.

But if Turkey is treated like this then All Nato and friendly countries towards USA should take note . American is Very Unreliable.

A country does not have permanent friends, only permanent interests.

 

[azyr]

A country does not have permanent friends, only permanent interests.

Not even permanent interests either. Those seem to change every decade or so too.

 

[LKJ86]

Not even permanent interests either. Those seem to change every decade or so too.

You misunderstood the meaning of “permanent interests”.

 

[Wow]

in my humble opinion Turkey should have gone for the s 500 after the f35 delivery have been made

 

[Timur]

But if Turkey is treated like this then All Nato and friendly countries towards USA should take note

no muslims should take a note.. that is the only reason

 

[Nein]

Amerimutts strike again

 

[BordoEnes]

Let them. This is certainly not a position we would like to be in but in the long term this will damage the US more then it will Turkey, especially in terms of logistics and geopolitics. Not to mention we already have a couple in service already, they are just not allowed to leave the US yet. This will cause much complications and the US doesnt particularly have a good trackrecord of handling situation like these.

 

[Borg]

TR is in great position, it don't have to take restricted but overpriced F-35 but don't have to pay any penalties, US will have to pay them! Then TR can invest all money budgeted for F-35 into TF-X and have its own fighter without any restrictions, export posibilities etc and in the meantime it can have S400 as protections against US and NATO bastards. Win-Win

 

[CAN_TR]

TR is in great position, it don't have to take restricted but overpriced F-35 but don't have to pay any penalties, US will have to pay them! Then TR can invest all money budgeted for F-35 into TF-X and have its own fighter without any restrictions, export posibilities etc and in the meantime it can have S400 as protections against US and NATO bastards. Win-Win

TF-X is designed to be an air superiority fighter, TuAF requested for aircrafts that can replace the F-4s.

 

[Islamic faith&Secularism]

USA wants to sell some other things, to break the rejection brings the F35 on the stage.

Regardless of that, it is still highly doubtful.

 

[azyr]

TF-X is designed to be an air superiority fighter, TuAF requested for aircrafts that can replace the F-4s.

Latest info on the TFX is that the air force has specifically asked the plane to be leaning harder towards an air superiority role.