US set to deliver 2 more F-35 jets to Turkey

By Kasim Ileri</p> <p>WASHINGTON (AA) – The U.S. is set to deliver two more F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, a spokesman for the F-35 program said Tuesday. </p> <p>Joe DellaVedova told Anadolu Agency the Turkish F-35 program of record, including ongoing training of Turkish F-35 personnel at Luke Air Force Base, is continuing &quot;until otherwise directed.&quot;</p> <p>&quot;Turkey currently has two F-35As at Luke Air Force Base and two other aircrafts are in final preparations to go to Luke,&quot; said DellaVedova. &quot;The first two aircrafts are currently scheduled to arrive in the country in November.&quot; </p> <p>However, sources familiar with the matter said delivery of the latest pair would take place within weeks.</p> <p>DellaVedova and sources avoided giving a specific date due to final preparations, technical issues, weather conditions and flight schedule. </p> <p>In line with schedule conditions, the U.S. is supposed to send the aircraft of new delivery to Turkey within one to two years after flight trainings are completed under U.S. custody.</p> <p>Turkey took ceremonial delivery of first two F-35 fighters in June. The aircrafts were sent to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona where they are used to teach Turkish pilots and crews to maintain and fly the fighters. </p> <p>Ankara is planning to purchase 100 F-35 fighter jets. The Pentagon delivered a report to Congress detailing implications of Turkey receiving the stealth fighter jets in November. </p> <p>Turkey first joined the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Program in 2002 and has invested more than $1.25 billion. It also &quot;manufactures various aircraft parts for all F-35 variants and customers.&quot;</p> <p>Separately, as a security issue for Turkey since the end of the 1990s, its search for an air and missile defense system accelerated in 2011 due to threats in the region. </p> <p>After protracted efforts to purchase the Patriot air defense systems from the U.S. with no success, Ankara decided in 2017 to buy Russia’s S-400 system, which sparked concerns among American officials. </p> <p>Washington cautioned the S-400 system might covertly obtain critical information on its F-35 fighter jets, including detection range, which could then be relayed to Russia.</p> <p>Several top generals suggested Washington should not supply Ankara with F-35 fighter jets if it accepts Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.</p> <p>Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, however, stressed that Ankara purchasing S-400s from Russia is &quot;not a choice, but a necessity&quot;. </p> <p>Servet Gunerigok contributed to the story

ALATURKA AİLESİ ÜYELERİ NE DİYOR?