US removing Turkey from F-35 program after its Russian missile defense purchase

WASHINGTON: The United States said on Wednesday that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move that had been long threatened and expected after Ankara began accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defense system last week.

The first parts of the S-400 air defense system were flown to the Murted military air base northwest of Ankara on Friday, sealing Turkey’s deal with Russia, which Washington had struggled for months to prevent.

“The U.S. and other F-35 partners are aligned in this decision to suspend Turkey from the program and initiate the process to formally remove Turkey from the program,” said Ellen Lord, the under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment.

“The United States is spending between $500 and $600 million in non-recurring engineering in order to shift the supply chain,” she said.

Used by NATO and other U.S. allies, the F-35 stealth fighter jet is the world’s most advanced jet fighter. Washington is concerned that deploying the S-400 with the F-35 would allow Russia to gain too much inside information of the stealth system.

“The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities,” the White House said in a statement earlier on Wednesday.

Washington has long said the acquisition may lead to Turkey’s expulsion from the F-35 program.

The Pentagon had already laid out a plan to remove Turkey from the program, including halting any new training for Turkish pilots on the advanced aircraft.

“The situation with Turkey is a government-to-government matter and we’ll comply with any guidance issued by the United States Government,” said a spokesperson for Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N), the prime contractor on the jet. </s> Turkey will not be getting the F-35 Lightning II fifth-generation stealth fighters from the United States of America because it has bought the S-400 Triumf air defence missile system from Russia. US President Donald Trump on Tuesday declared that Turkey cannot buy the over 100 F-35 Lightning II fighters that the country had ordered from American defence major Lockheed Martin.

"Turkey has also ordered over a hundred F-35 planes - substantially over a hundred - and they have plans to order more. But because they have a system of missiles that's made in Russia, they're now prohibited from buying over a hundred planes. I would say that Lockheed isn’t exactly happy. That's a lot of jobs," Trump said during a press conference at the White House on Tuesday.

"So what happens is we have a situation where Turkey is very good with us. Very good. And we are now telling Turkey that, because you have really been forced to buy another missile system, we’re not going to sell you the F-35 fighter jets. It's a very tough situation that they're in. And it’s a very tough situation that we’ve been placed in - the United States. With all of that being said, we’re working through it. We’ll see what happens. But it’s not really fair. They wanted to buy - I don’t stick up for countries. I don’t stick up for Turkey. I don’t stick up - other than I've had a good relationship with President Erdogan," said the US President.

Till July 16, 2019, 12 Russian aircraft have landed in Turkey with S-400 Triumf missile systems. Turkey, which is a member of the F-35 Lightning II development programme, has ordered 116 jets but the US has refused to deliver the stealth fighters. Even the four F-35s that were delivered to the Turkish Air Force inventory are being held in the US after Ankara announced that it would go ahead with buying the S-400 Triumf missiles despite the threat of sanctions and action by America.

Trump also blamed his predecessor and former US president Barack Obama for pushing Turkey towards Russia for its defence needs. "The Obama administration would not sell them the Patriot missiles. They need the Patriot missiles for defense. They would not sell them, under any circumstance," he claimed.

"And Turkey tried very hard to buy them, and they wouldn’t sell them, and this went on for a long period of time. And it was as soon as they found out that they were going to have to buy the missiles - a comparable missile - not as good a missile, but a comparable, almost, missile from Russia, all of a sudden everybody started rushing and saying to Turkey, "Okay, we'll sell you the Patriot missile." It was only when they found out they couldn’t get it, then, they say, "Let’s go, we’ll sell you the Patriot missile." But, by that time, Turkey had already signed and paid a lot of money to Russia for the missile system that they were not allowed to buy here, foolishly - because Turkey is a NATO member," said Trump.

According to the US defence officials, the S-400 Triumf missiles cannot operate with NATO's air defence systems as the two systems are incompatible and the Russian platform may also compromise operations of the F-35. </s> WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday that it was removing Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program, a move long threatened and expected after Ankara began accepting delivery of an advanced Russian missile defense system last week.

The first parts of the S-400 air defense system were flown to the Murted military air base northwest of Ankara on Friday, sealing NATO ally Turkey's deal with Russia, which Washington had struggled for months to prevent.

"The U.S. and other F-35 partners are aligned in this decision to suspend Turkey from the program and initiate the process to formally remove Turkey from the program," Ellen Lord, the undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, told a briefing.

Turkey's foreign ministry said the move was unfair and could affect relations between the two countries.

Lord said moving the supply chain for the advanced fighter jet would cost the United States between $500 million and $600 million in non-recurring engineering costs.

Turkey makes more than 900 parts of the F-35, she said, adding the supply chain would transition from Turkish to mainly U.S. factories as Turkish suppliers are removed.

"Turkey will certainly and regrettably lose jobs and future economic opportunities from this decision," Lord said. "It will no longer receive more than $9 billion in projected work share related to the F-35 over the life of the program."

The F-35 stealth fighter jet, the most advanced aircraft in the U.S. arsenal, is used by NATO and other U.S. allies.

Washington is concerned that deploying the S-400 with the F-35 would allow Russia to gain too much inside information about the aircraft's stealth system.

"The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," the White House said in a statement earlier on Wednesday.

Washington had long said the acquisition of the S-400 might lead to Turkey's expulsion from the F-35 program.

After the Pentagon announcement, Turkey's foreign ministry said in a statement: "We invite the United States to return from this mistake which would open irreparable wounds in strategic relations."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking at the Aspen Institute's annual security forum in Aspen, Colorado, said he was concerned at Turkey's expulsion from the F-35 program.

But while the S-400 could not become part of NATO's shared air and missile defenses, he said, Turkey has aircraft and radars that would remain part of the system.

"The S-400, the Russian air defense system, it’s not possible to integrate into the integrated NATO air defense and missile system, which is about sharing, you know, radar picture, about joint air policing, which is about shared capabilities. And Turkey has not asked for that," Stoltenberg said.

The S-400 acquisition is one of several issues that have frayed ties between the two allies, including a dispute over strategy in Syria east of the Euphrates River, where the United States is allied with Kurdish forces that Turkey views as foes.

The Pentagon had already laid out a plan to remove Turkey from the program, which included halting training for Turkish pilots on the aircraft.

Lord said all the Turkish F-35 pilots and personnel had "firm plans" to leave the United States and were scheduled to leave by July 31.

Turkey will no longer be able to buy the 100 F-35s it had agreed to purchase.

"These would likely have been delivered at an annual rate of 8-12 aircraft/year through the 2020s," Byron Callan, an analyst at Capital Alpha Partners, said in a research note on Wednesday.

The jet's prime contractor, Lockheed Martin Corp and the jet's program office at the Pentagon "should be able to re-market those delivery positions," Callan said.

Lockheed Martin spokeswoman Carolyn Nelson said: "Over the last several months we've been working to establish alternative sources of supply in the United States to quickly" adjust for the loss of Turkey's contribution to the program.

The United States is considering expanding sales of the jets to five other nations, including Romania, Greece and Poland, as European allies bulk up their defenses in the face of a strengthening Russia.

David Trachtenberg, the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, told reporters at the briefing that the United States still valued its relationship with Turkey.

"Our strategic partnership continues, but as I said, this is a specific response to a specific action," Trachtenberg said. </s> The White House confirmed Wednesday that Turkey would be excluded from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program after it purchased a Russian missile defense system in defiance of warnings from Western allies

Washington, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - APP - 18th Jul, 2019 ) :The White House confirmed Wednesday that Turkey would be excluded from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program after it purchased a Russian missile defense system in defiance of warnings from Western allies.

"Unfortunately, Turkey's decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible," White House spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said in a statement.

The US-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter "cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," she added.

Turkey's foreign ministry termed the move "unfair," saying in a statement that "this one-sided step neither complies with the spirit of alliance nor is it based on legitimate reasons." Grisham said that Washington had made "multiple" offers of its own Patriot missile defense system to Turkey, but Ankara went ahead and acquired the S-400, running counter to a NATO pledge to avoid adopting Russian systems.

"This will have detrimental impacts on Turkish interoperability with the Alliance," she said.

Grisham added that the United States "still greatly values" its strategic relationship with Ankara and would "continue to cooperate with Turkey extensively, mindful of constraints due to the presence of the S-400 system in Turkey." - Trump:'tough situation' - The announcement came five days after Turkey began taking delivery of the Russian missile system, shrugging off two years of warnings from the United States and other NATO allies that it could imperil their relationship.

The US action will lock out a number of Turkish manufacturers that were producing parts and components for the F-35, and block Turkey's plans to purchase about 100 of the advanced fighters.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declined to criticize Turkey for the S-400 purchase, falsely charging that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was unfairly forced into the move by his White House predecessor Barack Obama.

"It's a very tough situation that they're in and it's a very tough situation that we've been placed in.

.. With all of that being said, we're working through it -- we'll see what happens," he said.

Trump rued the loss of the sale of up to 100 F-35s to Turkey, saying manufacturer Lockheed Martin would suffer.

"Because they have a system of missiles that's made in Russia, they're now prohibited from buying over 100 planes. I would say that Lockheed isn't exactly happy. That's a lot of jobs," Trump said.

- Turkish manufacturers dropped - At the Pentagon, officials said operations were already underway to move the production of around 900 parts Turkey was to provide for the F-35s to suppliers in the United States and other countries.

Turkish F-35 technicians and pilots training in the United States would also be sent back by the end of this month.

"Turkey's purchase of the S-400 is inconsistent with its commitments to NATO," said Under Secretary of Defense Ellen Lord.

"Turkey will certainly and regrettably lose jobs and future economic opportunities from this decision," she said.

Turkey had work commitments worth $1 billion to supply the F-35 program, and could have expected a total of $9 billion in orders over the life of the program, according to Lord.

In addition, the US Congress has required countries that make significant purchases of Russian defense equipment to be subjected to punitive sanctions.

The State Department said Wednesday that no decision has been made yet on sanctions over the S-400 deal.

- 'Still a strong ally' - David Trachtenberg, deputy undersecretary at the US Defense Department, repeated that Turkey remains a strong ally of the United States and would still join NATO exercises.

"We will continue to participate with Turkey in multilateral exercises to improve readiness and interoperability, including upcoming exercises in Georgia, Germany and Ukraine," he told reporters.

Asked if Turkey could be ejected from NATO after nearly seven decades as a member, he replied: "That's a decision for the NATO alliance... That's not for us here to decide." LOCKHEED MARTIN </s> US kicking NATO ally Turkey out of fighter program

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a significant break with a longtime NATO ally, the Trump administration on Wednesday said Turkey can no longer be part of the American F-35 fighter jet program.

In a written statement, the White House said that Turkey's decision to buy the Russian S-400 air defense system "renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible."

The White House did not say explicitly that Turkey will be kicked out of the F-35 program, but the Pentagon was expected to do so.

Turkey makes numerous components for the stealth aircraft, which is sold internationally. If Turkey is removed from the program, as expected, the U.S. will have to find alternative suppliers.

"The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," the White House statement said, referring to the S-400 air defense system as a means for Russia to probe U.S. capabilities.

President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that the S-400 purchase means Turkey will not be allowed to purchase any F-35 planes.

Yet to be announced is whether the U.S. will impose economic sanctions on Turkey for its decision.

The break with Turkey over its purchase of a Russian weapon system is symptomatic of a deeper division between Ankara and its Western allies and partners.

Army Secretary Mark Esper, Trump's nominee to become secretary of defense, told his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday he is troubled by Turkey's decision to defy the United States on the S-400, suggesting that it reveals a broader strategic problem.

"It is very disheartening to see how they have drifted over the past several years," Esper said.

Turkey has complained that it was not given favorable terms to buy the American alternative to the Russian S-400 air defense system. The White House, however, said in its statement Wednesday that Turkey had plenty of chances to buy the U.S. Patriot system.

"This administration has made multiple offers to move Turkey to the front of the line to receive the U.S. Patriot air defense system," it said. </s> US kicking NATO ally Turkey out of fighter program

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Turkey can no longer be part of the American F-35 fighter jet program.

In a written statement, the White House said Wednesday that Turkey's decision to buy the Russian S-400 air defense system "renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible."

The White House did not say explicitly that Turkey will be kicked out of the F-35 program, but the Pentagon was expected to do so.

Turkey makes numerous components for the stealth aircraft. If Turkey is removed, as expected, the U.S. will have to find alternative suppliers.

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the S-400 purchase means Turkey will not be allowed to purchase any F-35 planes.

Yet to be announced is whether the U.S. will impose economic sanctions on Turkey for its decision. </s> FILE – In this March 29, 2019, photo, a U.S. F-35A fighter jet prepares to land at Chungju Air Base in Chungju, South Korea. The White House says Turkey can no longer be part of the American F-35 fighter jet program. In a written statement, the White House said Wednesday that Turkey’s decision to buy the Russian S-400 air defense system “renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible.” (Kang Jong-min/Newsis via AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major break with a longtime ally, the Trump administration on Wednesday said Turkey is being kicked out of an American-led fighter aircraft program because it is buying a Russian air defense system that would aid Russian intelligence.

The decision has significant implications for the cohesion of NATO, whose central strategic purpose is to defend against Russian aggression. Now that NATO member Turkey has chosen to buy and deploy the Russian-made S-400 air defense, it will no longer be fully part of the alliance’s air defenses, which are at the core of NATO strategy.

The U.S. government’s concern is that the S-400 could be used to gather data on the capabilities of the F-35, and that the information could end up in Russian hands.

Pentagon officials sought to downplay the rift, noting that Turkey has been a key ally for more than six decades.

“The U.S. still values our strategic partnership with Turkey,” said Ellen Lord, the Pentagon’s chief weapons buyer, who told a news conference that the U.S. has suspended Turkey from the F-35 program and is beginning the process of its formal removal. Lord said Turkey stands to lose $9 billion in future earnings as an F-35 parts supplier.

David Trachtenberg, the deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, told reporters the U.S.-Turkey military partnership “remains very strong,” and U.S. and Turkish forces will continue to exercise together. He declined to explain how Turkey can remain a full partner in NATO’s integrated air defense while using a weapon system built by NATO’s chief adversary.

It’s clear, however, that senior U.S. officials worry about the future of the relationship with Turkey. Mark Esper, Trump’s nominee to be the next secretary of defense, told his Senate confirmation hearing on Tuesday that it is “very disheartening to see how they have drifted over the past several years” away from the West.

Although it is never publicly acknowledged by the U.S. government, the Pentagon stores nuclear weapons at Turkey’s Incirlik air base. Some national security experts question the wisdom of continuing that arrangement, given Turkey’s drift.

Earlier this week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his government hopes to co-produce high-tech weaponry systems with Russia in the future, further defying the United States and other NATO allies. Turkey refused to bow to U.S. pressure, saying its Russia deal is a matter of national sovereignty and that the agreement could not be cancelled.

The decision to remove Turkey from the F-35 program had been expected, although administration officials spent months trying to talk the Turks into reversing course. The final straw was Turkey’s announcement last weekend that it has begun taking delivery from Russia of components for the air defense system, called the S-400.

“Unfortunately, Turkey’s decision to purchase the Russian S-400 air defense systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible,” a White House statement said. “The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities.” That “platform” is the S-400.

The White House did not say explicitly that Turkey will be kicked out of the F-35 program, but the Pentagon did.

Lord said the process of fully removing Turkey is under way and should be completed by next March 31. She refused to say whether the decision could be reversed.

Turkey makes more than 900 components for the stealth aircraft, which is sold internationally. Removing it as a supplier means the Pentagon is lining up alternative manufacturers for those parts. Lord said many of those alternatives will be American suppliers, and that the Pentagon is spending between $500 million and $600 million “to shift the supply chain.”

Congress appears generally supportive of the administration’s moves against Turkey.

“America simply cannot send its most advanced military technology to countries where adversaries like Russia will have access to it,” said Sen. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican who sits on the Armed Services Committee.

Trump announced on Tuesday that the S-400 purchase means Turkey will not be allowed to purchase any F-35 planes, but he did not address the related questions of Turkey’s role in F-35 production or the likelihood that the S-400 purchase from Russia will trigger U.S. sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. The State Department this week has been silent on whether those sanctions will be imposed.

The break with Turkey over its purchase of a Russian weapon system is symptomatic of a deeper division between Ankara and its Western allies and partners.

Army Secretary Mark Esper, Trump’s nominee to become secretary of defense, told his Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday he is troubled by Turkey’s decision to defy the United States on the S-400, suggesting that it reveals a broader strategic problem.

“It is very disheartening to see how they have drifted over the past several years,” Esper said.

Turkey has complained that it was not given favorable terms to buy the American alternative to the Russian S-400 air defense system. The White House, however, said in its statement Wednesday that Turkey had plenty of chances to buy the U.S. Patriot system.

“This administration has made multiple offers to move Turkey to the front of the line to receive the U.S. Patriot air defense system,” it said. </s> The US Pentagon has notified Turkey that it is cancelling its purchase of F-35 fighter jets if the Turkish government goes ahead with the purchase of a Russia's S-400 missile defence system.

Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has sent a letter notifying Turkey that all training of Turkish pilots will also end as of July 31. And all Turkish personnel connected to the F-35 programme must leave the country by the end of that month.

Shanahan's letter explicitly states there will be "no new F-35 training". It says there were 34 students scheduled for F-35 training later this year.

"This training will not occur because we are suspending Turkey from the F-35 programme; there are no longer requirements to gain proficiencies on the systems," according to an attachment to the letter that is titled, "Unwinding Turkey's Participation in the F-35 Program."

In his letter, Shanahan also warned Ankara that its deal with Moscow risked undermining its ties to NATO, hurting the Turkish economy and creating over-dependence on Russia.

"You still have the option to change course on the S-400," Shanahan wrote.

The two NATO allies have sparred publicly for months over Turkey's order for Russia's S-400 air defence system, which Washington says poses a threat to the Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 stealthy fighters, which Turkey also plans to buy.

The United States has said Turkey cannot have both, but had avoided taking steps to curtail or halt planned training of Turkish pilots in the programme, a reprisal that could be seen as an embarrassment in Turkey.

Russia: 'Everything is on track with the Turks'

The announcement came as the head of Russia's state-owned conglomerate Rostec said Moscow would begin delivering the S-400 air defence systems to Turkey.

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"Everything is on track with the Turks. I hope that we will begin to deliver in about two months," Sergei Chemezov told NTV channel, according to Russian news agencies on Friday.



"The credit money has been spent, the technology was produced. And we completed training of all the military personnel," he said.

If Turkey were removed from the F-35 programme, it would be one of the most significant ruptures in recent history in the relationship between the two allies, experts said.

Turkish officials have not immediately commented on the Pentagon's letter.

Turkish President Recept Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday it was "out of the question" for Turkey to back away from its deal with Moscow.

Erdogan said the US had not "given us an offer as good as the S-400s".

The Turkish lira declined as much as 1.5 percent on Friday before recovering some losses. The currency has shed nearly 10 percent of its value against the dollar this year in part on fraying diplomatic ties and the risk of US sanctions if Turkey accepts delivery of the S-400s.

'Graceful wind-down'

Turkey is one of the core partners in the F-35 programme and expressed an interest in buying 100 of the fighters, which would have a total value of nine billion dollars at current prices.

Turkish companies produce some 937 parts of the F-35, largely for the aircraft's landing gear and centre fuselage, the Pentagon says. The US is now planning to move that production elsewhere, ending Turkey's manufacturing role by early next year.

The Pentagon believes that it can minimise the effects on the broader programme if Turkey abides by the US timeline.

"What we are doing is working to do a very disciplined and graceful wind-down," Ellen Lord, an undersecretary of defence, told reporters at the Pentagon.

But if Turkey were removed from the F-35 programme, the ramifications would be felt far beyond the Turkish air force.

Strains in ties between the US and Ankara already extend beyond the F-35 to include conflicting strategy in Syria, Iran sanctions and the detention of US consular staff in Turkey. </s> The United States has given Turkey a deadline of July 31 to reverse its purchase of a Russian missile-defense system or face the loss of subcontracting work on the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet project.

 

 Ellen Lord, U.S. undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, also told reporters on June 8 that Turkish pilots training in the United States on F-35 warplanes being sold to Ankara will be expelled if the missile deal is not called off.

 

 She said the deadline "will allow sufficient time for Turkish personnel associated with the F-35 program to be reassigned and depart the United States...to facilitate an orderly cessation of Turkish participation."

 

 Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart that explained the measures to remove Turkey from the program unless Ankara changes course.

 

 Washington and its allies consider Russia’s S-400 missile system to be incompatible with NATO systems and a threat to the F-35 fighter jets.

 

 The United States has urged Ankara to back off its purchase of the system and has turned up the heat as its delivery date has neared.

 

 President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has repeatedly said his country was "determined" to proceed with the Russia purchase, which he has long labeled a “done deal.”

 

 Turkey, a NATO ally of the United States, had already sent personnel to Russia to start training with the S-400. It also has at least two pilots training in the United States to fly the F-35 – of which Turkey has purchased 100 for its own military’s use.

 

 Turkey has spent billions to gear up its industry to participate in parts production related to the F-35s. Companies in the country make hundreds of parts for the warplane, largely for the aircraft's landing gear and center fuselage.

 

 Lord said Turkey's participation would be finished by early 2020 if it does not reverse the S-400 deal.

 

 "Turkey still has the option to change course," she said.

 

 "If Turkey does not accept delivery of the S-400, we will enable Turkey to return to normal," she said.

 

 The F-35s are designed to operate in sync and with NATO systems, including antimissile defenses, raising fears that Russia could adjust the S-400's capacities against the Western Alliance through information gathered in dealing with Turkey.

 

 U.S. officials have pressed Turkey to switch to the American-made Patriot air defense system, telling Ankara that would allow it to continue participation in the F-35 program.

 

 Erdogan said he told the United States that Ankara would consider buying Patriots only if Washington's conditions for a deal were as good as Moscow's offer.

 

 "But unfortunately we haven't received a positive proposal from the American side on the subject of Patriots like the S-400s from Russia," he said.

 

 Shanahan said he believed the U.S. offer for the Patriots was "very competitive."

With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP
The United States removes NATO ally Turkey from the Joint Strike Fighter program, following the country's acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile system. Turkey had planned to buy 100 F-35 Lightning II jets.