By Hakan Copur and Kasim Ileri
WASHINGTON (AA) – The U.S. Defense Department submitted its report to Congress this week that includes an assessment of Turkey’s participation in F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program.
Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, the spokesman for Pentagon, told Anadolu Agency on Friday that the department “provided the NDAA-required Secretary of Defense F-35 report to Congress for their decision on the way forward.
“Department leadership will continue to work closely with Congress to answer any of their questions, ” said Andrews.
Andrews said the Pentagon may have an “unclassified update ” about the report next week.
In August, the U.S. President Donald Trump signed a $716 billion defense spending bill, which included an amendment prohibiting transfers to Turkey of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets until the Pentagon issues a report on Turkish-American relations in 90 days.
The report includes an assessment of Turkey's participation in the F-35 program as well as the risks would be posed by the country's purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defense system.
Turkey's removal from the F-35 program was taken out of the bill by the Congressional Conference Committee.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, in a letter to the Senate on July 7, opposed Turkey’s removal from the program, saying it could cause a disruption in a supply chain for the U.S. military and its partners while increasing other program costs.
Turkey plans to purchase 100 F-35 fighter jets in coming years.
