Turkey gets first F-35 delivery from US
The US delivered its first shipment of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey on 21 June, despite tensions with the country and US lawmakers' opposition.
American defence giant Lockheed Martin officially transferred possession of the first plane, designed to evade even the most advanced radars, to Turkish officials during a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas.
A second plane is due to be delivered in the coming days and the two aircraft will be brought ‘at a later date’ to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona, where Turkish pilots and maintenance crews are receiving training, said Lieutenant Colonel Mike Andrews, a Pentagon spokesman.
US senators have opposed the delivery in light of Ankara's plans to purchase Russian S-400 missile defence systems.
In a defence budget bill approved on 19 June, the Senate demanded that F-35 sales be scrapped if Turkey goes ahead with the Russian purchase.
The text reads: ‘Any effort by the government of the Republic of Turkey to further enhance their relationship with Russia will degrade the general security of the NATO alliance, and NATO member countries, and degrade interoperability of the alliance.’
If both chambers of the US Congress approve that version of the bill, US President Donald Trump's administration will be obliged to exclude Turkey from the F-35 programme, remove from the aircraft all parts made in Turkey and ban the Turkish F-35s from leaving US territory.
Turkey has been a partner in the international consortium that financed the F-35 since 2002.
A US defence official stressed that ‘after aircraft production, the US government maintains custody of the aircraft until custody is transferred to the partner.’
The official added: ‘This normally occurs after the lengthy process of foreign partner training is complete (one-two years).’
Ties between the two NATO allies have been strained since Turkey launched an offensive against Kurdish militia in northeastern Syia – the People's Protection Units – that the US backs to fight the Islamic State group but which Ankara considers a terror group.
Launched in the early 1990s, the F-35 is considered the most expensive weapons system in US history, with an estimated cost of around $400 billion and a goal to produce 2,500 aircraft in the coming years.
More from Defence Notes
-
US lawmakers warn that “more military spending is absolutely necessary” to ensure Pentagon’s readiness
The US Congress has raised concerns about how inflation rates and cuts in main acquisition programmes could affect the US military.
-
Can the US overcome Russian and Chinese nuclear capabilities?
Washington’s ageing inventory and the pace Moscow and Beijing have been modernising their capabilities put in check the US Nuclear deterrence.
-
US FY2024 funding package passes as China closes military capability gap
The Pentagon has been operating under temporary funding since October 2023, which has impacted its main acquisition and development programmes, increasing the capability gap between the US and China.
-
NATO outlines future challenges as Ukrainian funding from US stalls
In 2023, defence spending increased by an unprecedented 11% across European NATO countries and Canada. Since 2014, the group has spent an additional US$600 billion on defence.
-
US Pentagon to reduce investments in main acquisition programmes over FY2025
The DoD requested nearly US$850 billion to fund operations over the next fiscal year. Despite the amount being 1% higher than the FY2024 budget request, it has not covered the 3% inflation rate, which could impact the DoD’s main programmes in the medium and long term.
-
Haiti crisis forces Caribbean militaries to prepare for intervention
As gangs gain control of Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s Caribbean neighbours have been preparing to intervene in the failed state, with the US and other partners waiting in the wings with equipment and financial support.