USA To Buy 8 F-35A Lightning II made for Turkey

[BHarwana]

Contract dat: July 20, 2020
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $861,731,778 modification (P00040) to previously-awarded fixed-price incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification exercises options to procure eight Lot 14 F-35A Lightning II repositioned aircraft as a result of the Republic of Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program, and six Lot 14 F-35A aircraft for the Air Force. Additionally, this modification establishes undefinitized line items that provides recurring engineering in support of the modification of the eight Lot 14 F-35A Lightning II repositioned aircraft to a full operationally capable F-35A Air Force configuration. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (63%); El Segundo, California (14%); Warton, United Kingdom (9%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (1.3%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.7%). Work is expected to be completed by May 2026. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds for $848,881,778 will be obligated at time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

So USA is making it's move of purchasing F-35A Lightning II which were made for Turkey. This means Turkey is finally free of US clutches. To some it will look like disappointment but in time this will favor Turkey

 

[maverick1977]

i have to admit, Turks global clout has increased under Erdogan, they are emerging as a global power

 

[-------]

Why are they modifying the aircraft ?

 

[dBSPL]

So USA is making it's move of purchasing F-35A Lightning II which were made for Turkey. This means Turkey is finally free of US clutches. To some it will look like disappointment but in time this will favor Turkey

The 8 aircraft order in Lot-14 will be transferred to the USAF. These quotas will be re-planned according to the USAF configuration. Previously produced (2 + 4) 6 aircraft were in Lot-10 and 11. We have also 16 aircraft orders in lot-12 and 13 (8 + 8). There is no explanation for these or first 6 aircraft.

In other words, last 8 out of 30 aircraft orders(the first 6 are ready) were transferred to USAF before they were produced. Yes, this shows that Turkey will now turn to alternative plans.

 

[Bismarck]

Contract dat: July 20, 2020
Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $861,731,778 modification (P00040) to previously-awarded fixed-price incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification exercises options to procure eight Lot 14 F-35A Lightning II repositioned aircraft as a result of the Republic of Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program, and six Lot 14 F-35A aircraft for the Air Force. Additionally, this modification establishes undefinitized line items that provides recurring engineering in support of the modification of the eight Lot 14 F-35A Lightning II repositioned aircraft to a full operationally capable F-35A Air Force configuration. Work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas (63%); El Segundo, California (14%); Warton, United Kingdom (9%); Orlando, Florida (4%); Nashua, New Hampshire (3%); Baltimore, Maryland (3%); San Diego, California (2%); various locations within the continental U.S. (1.3%); and various locations outside the continental U.S. (0.7%). Work is expected to be completed by May 2026. Fiscal 2020 aircraft procurement (Air Force) funds for $848,881,778 will be obligated at time of award. No funds will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, Maryland, is the contracting activity.

So USA is making it's move of purchasing F-35A Lightning II which were made for Turkey. This means Turkey is finally free of US clutches. To some it will look like disappointment but in time this will favor Turkey

Source?

 

[BHarwana]

The 8 aircraft order in Lot-14 will be transferred to the USAF. These quotas will be re-planned according to the USAF configuration. Previously produced (2 + 4) 6 aircraft were in Lot-10 and 11. We have also 16 aircraft orders in lot-12 and 13 (8 + 8). There is no explanation for these or first 6 aircraft.

Read this line. It says Turkish removal from the F 35 program. I can only assume here my friend about the rest of the jets as nothing is clear so far apart from this contract.

repositioned aircraft as a result of the Republic of Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program

Source?

US to buy eight F-35 jets originally built for Turkey

• 1 hour ago

US Air Force to officially purchase F-35A fifth-generation stealth fighter jets originally built by Lockheed Martin for Turkey as part of $862 million contract modification.

The US Air Force is purchasing eight F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighter jets that were initially intended for Turkey prior to its removal from the joint strike fighter programme.

In addition to the F-35A's manufactured by Lockheed Martin for Turkey, the $862 million contract modification provides the aerospace manufacturer with an undetermined sum to reconfigure the jets in-line with the US models.

The deal also includes an additional six F-35A jets for the US Air Force.

The announcement was made on Monday in a Pentagon contract announcement.

Strain over Russian S-400s

The US officially removed Turkey from the F-35 joint strike fighter programme in July 2019 over Ankara's decision to buy an advanced Russian anti-air missile system.

The US and partner nations maintain the S-400 system poses security risks to the advanced jet, maintaining Russia could covertly use it to obtain classified details on the jet, and warning it is incompatible with NATO systems.

Turkey, however, has countered that the S-400 would not be integrated into any NATO systems and would not pose a threat to the alliance.

Keeping delivery of parts

Despite Turkey's formal expulsion, the US and partner nations will continue to depend on Turkish manufacturing for key parts of F-35 fighter jets through 2022, Bloomberg reported in late June.

Although Turkey is banned from buying F-35s, Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a Defence Department spokesman, said a decision was made in late 2019 "to honour existing contractual arrangements and accept delivery of parts that were already on contract".

Andrews emphasised that the aim is to "avoid costly, disruptive and wasteful contract terminations."

Risk with alternative suppliers
The decision was heavily hinted at in a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report in May, which said Turkey's ouster from the F-35 programme will likely compound its already beleaguered manufacturing process.

The congressional watchdog determined that while the programme has made progress in lowering prices and increasing production, about 7,000 of its more than 10,000 airframe contractors' "key processes" do not "meet predefined design standards for ensuring product quality," and it continues to face supply shortages that are likely to be exacerbated by Turkey's removal.

The GAO cited data from the Pentagon's Defense Contract Management Agency that said at the time of Turkey's removal, the programme was facing increasing levels of late deliveries of aircraft parts and parts shortages.

It further noted that "risk remains" with the administration's plan to switch from Turkish to alternative suppliers, noting in particular that "some of these new parts suppliers will not be producing at the rate required until next year," as roughly 10 percent are new to the F-35 programme.

https://www.trtworld.com/turkey/us-to-buy-eight-f-35-jets-originally-built-for-turkey-38301

 

[AZADPAKISTAN2009]

USA pulled a carrot move on Turkey lost credibility by removing a partner who invested so much time into the project for last 10-15 years

 

[Figaro]

USA pulled a carrot move on Turkey lost credibility by removing a partner who invested so much time into the project for last 10-15 years

I don't think the US lost any credibility. The US did not remove Turkey for no reason ... it repeatedly warned them if the S-400 system was purchased, then the F-35 cooperation could no longer continue. And I don't blame them. Would you want your most advanced fighter's intel to be transferred to Almaz Antey?

 

[Melkor]

I don't think the US lost any credibility. The US did not remove Turkey for no reason ... it repeatedly warned them if the S-400 system was purchased, then the F-35 cooperation could no longer continue. And I don't blame them. Would you want your most advanced fighter's intel to be transferred to Almaz Antey?

Where’s the cold hard evidence of this? The US didn’t even want to take the time to prove it when Turkey asked to investigate the risk. Political move by US because AKP doesn’t suit the US’s tastes, which is fine but, they could have helped out with patriots over the years but as you probably know, too many senators and generals didn’t want to give Turkey a leg up against any of their pets in the region...

 

[Bismarck]

I don't think the US lost any credibility. The US did not remove Turkey for no reason ... it repeatedly warned them if the S-400 system was purchased, then the F-35 cooperation could no longer continue. And I don't blame them. Would you want your most advanced fighter's intel to be transferred to Almaz Antey?

It was never part of the F35 contract, not to buy S400. We even dont know how the S400 system works.

 

[I S I]

https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/its-official-us-air-force-to-buy-turkish-f-35s.677006/

 

[HalfMoon]

Turkey is working with the US in the background.

Turkey procured S-400 on the advise of the US.

US wanted to test the effectiveness of S-400 as China has them.

Turkey is sharing S-400 data with the US.

Turkey just confirmed the S-400 data with regards to F-16s. This is useful for to assess Chinese S-400 vs Taiwan's F-16s.

Taiwan is now upgrading their Airforce based on this data and findings.

 

[Figaro]

It was never part of the F35 contract, not to buy S400. We even dont know how the S400 system works.

I understand that the contract for the F-35 did not exactly stipulate the non-purchasing of the S-400. However then again at the time of the contract Turkey wasn't in the process of acquiring the S-400 (or even the HQ-9 back in 2013). Times change. The US cannot let the F-35s information be gleamed by something like the S-400 ...

Turkey is working with the US in the background.

Turkey procured S-400 on the advise of the US.

US wanted to test the effectiveness of S-400 as China has them.

Turkey is sharing S-400 data with the US.

Turkey just confirmed the S-400 data with regards to F-16s. This is useful for to assess Chinese S-400 vs Taiwan's F-16s.

Taiwan is now upgrading their Airforce based on this data and findings.

If this was the case, then why did Turkey get kicked out of the F35 program?

Where’s the cold hard evidence of this? The US didn’t even want to take the time to prove it when Turkey asked to investigate the risk. Political move by US because AKP doesn’t suit the US’s tastes, which is fine but, they could have helped out with patriots over the years but as you probably know, too many senators and generals didn’t want to give Turkey a leg up against any of their pets in the region...

Not really a political move at all. The termination of Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program was a completely bipartisan agreement between Democrats and Republicans. They know the security risks involved ... do you think they would not want to export the F-35 either?

 

[HalfMoon]

If this was the case, then why did Turkey get kicked out of the F35 program?

It was an act to fool and convince Russia to sell S-400s.

Turkey can always buy F-35s in the future once the S-400 tech has been thoroughly studied and compromised.

 

[BordoEnes]

I don't think the US lost any credibility. The US did not remove Turkey for no reason ... it repeatedly warned them if the S-400 system was purchased, then the F-35 cooperation could no longer continue. And I don't blame them. Would you want your most advanced fighter's intel to be transferred to Almaz Antey?

Greece and Cyprus had Russian S-300 Systems for decades now, yet you have no problem offering them the F-35. The S-400 purchase is just an convenient excuse, if you dont want to sell us F-35 thats fine but dont think get to have some form of moral highground when its foundations are rubbish. Lets not mention that the F-35 will be flying around our S-400 wether Turkey has them or not, so once again its all BS.