Turkey is ready to allay US concerns over the incompatibility of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets and Russian-made S-400 air defense systems, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said.
"Turkey continued to produce key components for the F-35, despite the pandemic and its exclusion from the list of countries participating in the project to create them. I would like to emphasize that Turkey is not a client in the F-35 production program, but a partner. We are ready from a technical point of view to allay the concerns of the United States regarding the incompatibility of the S-400 and F-35," Akar said, speaking in an online format at a conference held by the Turkish Heritage Organization in Washington. His speech was broadcast on Twitter of the Turkish Defense Ministry.
Deliveries of the latest Russian S-400 air defense systems, which caused a crisis in Turkey's relations with the United States, began in mid-July 2019. Washington demanded to abandon the deal and instead purchase American patriot complexes, threatening to delay or cancel the sale of the latest F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, as well as impose sanctions in accordance with CAATSA. Ankara refused to make concessions and continued negotiations on an additional batch of S-400s.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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Based on materials from RIA Novosti, TASS