US officially kicks Turkey out of F-35 fighter jet program

Source: The Hill | July 17, 2019 | Ellen Mitchell

The U.S. government on Wednesday officially removed Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move that came after the NATO ally last week took delivery of a Russian missile defense system, against Washington’s wishes.

“The U.S. and other F-35 partners are aligned in this decision to suspend Turkey from the program and initiate the process to formally remove Turkey from the program,” Ellen Lord, the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, told reporters at the Pentagon.

The White House also released a statement on Wednesday that said Turkey’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile defense system “renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible.”

“The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities,” the statement said.

“Turkey has been a longstanding and trusted partner and NATO Ally for over 65 years, but . . . This will have detrimental impacts on Turkish interoperability with the Alliance.”

The administration has long threatened it would pull Turkey from the F-35 program if it took delivery of the S-400, which Ankara did on Friday.

U.S. officials fear that the Russian system, if used alongside the F-35, will allow a back door into the advanced aircrafts’ closely guarded stealth information.

“Turkey cannot field a Russian intelligence collection platform in proximity to where the F-35 program makes repairs, and houses the F-35,” Lord said.

“Much of the F-35′s strength lies in its stealth capabilities, so the ability to detect those capabilities would jeopardize the long-term security of the F-35 program. We seek only to protect the long-term security of the F-35 program.”

The decision has major implications for Turkey, which was on track to buy 100 of the F-35A and was one of nine partner countries involved in making and maintaining the advanced fighter jet. The nation makes about 900 parts for the aircraft.

Lord said that the Pentagon will now move F-35 production and maintenance roles from Turkey and split the tasks among other partner nations, but stressed that it will have a “minimal impact” on the larger F-35 program.

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