The US air force decided to buy eight fifth-generation F-35 fighters intended for Turkey from the American Lockheed Martin Corporation. This is stated in a statement issued on July 20 by the US Department of Defense.
It notes that the $862 million acquisition of eight F-35S originally produced by Lockheed Martin for Turkey is part of a modification of an earlier contract with an American Corporation. As part of this agreement, the air force purchased an additional six F-35A fighters from the company. In addition, the Pentagon noted, as part of the contract modification, Lockheed Martin will make changes to the aircraft required by the US air force.
Initially, Turkey planned to purchase 100 fighters. However, in connection with Ankara's purchase of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Moscow, Washington excluded Turkey from the American fighter production program last summer. Nevertheless, the first batch of F-35 intended for the Republic was already produced, but never sent to the country. Turkish pilots even received special training in the United States to fly new fighters. After purchasing, the courses were canceled.
Russia and Turkey signed a contract in 2017 for Moscow to supply Ankara with S-400 systems. The Republic was the first of the NATO countries to acquire these systems from the Russian Federation. Ankara's decision provoked a sharply negative reaction from the US and the Alliance as a whole. The United States does not stop trying to get Turkey to abandon the Russian air defense system.
In addition, the US threatens Turkey for the purchase of the S-400 with the introduction of a number of unilateral sanctions, but is in no hurry to take these steps, because they fear the further deterioration of relations with a key NATO ally, and Ankara warns that it will not leave the use of such restrictions unanswered.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from TASS