As US-Turkey ties continue their downward spiral, with both sides engaging in a tit-for-tat of sanctions and tariffs after Ankara refused to release an American pastor detained on terrorism charges, Turkey’s future in the F-35 program is being held hostage.
US President Donald Trump recently signed into law a defense spending bill that blocks the transfer of the fifth-generation fighter jet to Turkey. The legislation came just weeks after the first F-35 aircraft was delivered into Turkish possession, though the jet will remain on US soil for a training program.
While some lawmakers have brought up the case of the detained US citizen as one reason to hold up the F-35 transfer, the main concern cited by Congress was Ankara’s decision to purchase the advanced Russian S-400 missile defense system.
US Defense Secretary James Mattis has lobbied Congress to allow Turkey to remain in the program. An analysis published by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute on Tuesday explained why Mattis is concerned and why cutting Turkey out of the consortium will cause headaches for Australia and other participants.
“If Turkey is excluded from the JSF program, it would in turn cease providing components to the [F-35 Joint Strike Fighter] production line. That’s why Secretary of Defense James Mattis opposed the proposal, arguing in a letter to Congress that, ‘If the Turkish supply chain was disrupted today, it would result in an aircraft production break, delaying delivery of 50–75 F-35s, and would take approximately 18–24 months to re-source parts and recover,’” Marcus Hellyer wrote.
He added that Australia’s air force is on a tight timeline to get up and running with 33 F-35s within the next three years, and a two-year production delay would derail those plans.
Turkey was also assigned responsibility for engine deep maintenance in Europe, according to Hellyer, highlighting the degree of interdependence among the consortium members.
At the same time, Australia shares the US concerns about Turkey’s purchase of the Russian missile defense system.
“The JSF was designed to defeat high-end Russian air-defense systems such as the S-400. Russia will be very anxious to understand the JSF’s electromagnetic signatures, in particular, its radar profile. […]The Russian technicians who will be assisting the Turks to introduce and operate the S-400 will no doubt be collecting JSF signature data that can be used to develop tactics to defeat it,” Hellyer speculated in the article.
“In a ‘normal’ world one would expect the flow of information to go in the other direction, with Turkey sharing key signature and performance data on the S-400 with other NATO members. But when a NATO member is planning to acquire Russian air-defense systems, we’re not in a normal world anymore—not to mention Erdoğan’s threats to find new and different allies.”
Donald trump is completely brain less as just showing like dictator to other nation , now the era has gone to keep complete pressure n change the things in own favour.
One day we will see that USA will lost super power as a country.
Things keep getting change gradually n steadily.
Ahmed Kamal Pirzada I dont think US is arming India. Most Indian defence weapons are from Russia.
You are very right.In the name of an ally the US had been playing deceitful game with Turkey ever since. For example, the PKK, the Kurds, Syria meddling and all sorts of dirty tricks. Turkey chose to expose this dirty game. Turkey had to choose a dependable partner sooner or later.
USA PKK (terrorist organization) are in cooperation in syria s400 system in the US is scared of years because that is very protected a system that NATO never turkey has left fair treatment not alone in the fight against terrorism the US has been involved in the military coup in Turkey prune turkey in the US The longer has proven to be a friendly country turkey for it If their was forced to take the legitimate security to enter the path of relationship the United States the turkey with the need to establish more intimate relationships is threatening relations on the path relations are not on the path pastor brance you may be returned even s400 system
https://www.bbc.com/turkce/haberler-turkiye-43782841
What support did the so called member states of NATO give to turkey during the failed coup? Rather many of their citizens were found involved in trying to destabilize their NATO ally. So now when turkey seems to tilt towards a more reliable no-stab-in-the-back partner suddenly the NATO member card is ready to be played. Hypocrites. Just jealous of Turkeys prominent role in the Muslim world
What support did the so called member states of NATO give to turkey during the failed coup? Rather many of their citizens were found involved in trying to destabilize their NATO ally. So now when turkey seems to tilt towards a more reliable no-stab-in-the-back partner suddenly the NATO member card is ready to be played. Hypocrites. Just jealous of Turkeys prominent role in the Muslim world
Jason Powe bro I want to know in Russia,europe there no human being why we making such type of weapon and aircraft which will destroy our world. Are these necessary to make better world?
Its regrettable hear you mixing Islam and politics …..