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> WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has notified Turkey that it is canceling its purchase of F-35 fighter jets if the Turkish government goes ahead with the purchase of a Russian missile defense system.

Acting 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 program must leave the country by the end of that month.

Shanahan’s letter to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Aka also says Turkey won’t be allowed to take final delivery of the four F-35s it bought.

The letter is the latest in an ongoing dispute over Turkey’s decision to buy the Russian-made S-400 system. The U.S. has repeatedly warned Ankara that the Russian system is considered a threat to the F-35.

READ MORE: Turkey doesn’t have to choose between U.S. and Russia, foreign minister says </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 </s> Turkey will retaliate against the US if Washington blocks the supply of F-35 fighters to Ankara, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said.

Cavusoglu said that a proposal by US lawmakers to temporarily stop weapons sales, including F-35 jets, to Turkey was wrong, illogical and not fitting of the alliance between the NATO allies.

"Next week I will go on a visit to the United States. It's about the fact that the cancellation of the sale of the F-35 is not acceptable, and if it (the cancellation) happens, then they (the US) will receive an appropriate response from Turkey," Cavusoglu said.

READ MORE: US Senators Want to Block Sale of F-35 Fighters to Turkey — Reports

Recently, US Senator Lankford said that "Turkey's strategic decisions regrettably fall more and more out of line with, and at times in contrast to, US interests."

According to him, Ankara's geopolitical cooperation with Moscow and its decision to place an order for the advanced Russian S-400 missile defense system could complicate the F-35 purchase plan.

In December 2017, Russia and Turkey signed a loan agreement for the supply of S-400 systems to Ankara. According to a statement by the Turkish defense industry secretariat, Ankara acquires two batteries of this system, which will be operated and serviced by Turkish military personnel. </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> The United States on Friday raised the stakes in its standoff with Turkey over Ankara’s deal to acquire a Russian air defense system, laying out a plan to remove the NATO ally from the F-35 fighter jet program that includes immediately halting any new training for Turkish pilots on the advanced aircraft.

Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan sent a letter to his Turkish counterpart, seen by Reuters on Friday, that laid out the steps to remove Turkey from the program unless Turkey changes course.

Reuters on Thursday first reported the decision to stop accepting more Turkish pilots for training in the United States, in one of the most concrete signs that the dispute between Washington and Ankara is reaching a breaking point.

The United States says Turkey’s acquisition of Russia’s S-400 air defense system poses a threat to the Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35 stealthy fighters, which Turkey also plans to buy. The United States says Turkey cannot have both.

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 program; 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.”

Turkish personnel already in the United States will see their training on the F-35 discontinued at the end of July.

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 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 U.S. sanctions if Turkey accepts delivery of the S-400s.

Turkey is one of the core partners in the F-35 program and expressed an interest in buying 100 of the fighters, which would have a total value of $9 billion at current prices.

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

The Pentagon believes that it can minimize the impact on the broader program if Turkey abides by the U.S. timeline.

“What we are doing is working to do a very disciplined and graceful wind-down,” Ellen Lord, an under secretary of defense, told reporters at the Pentagon.

But if Turkey were removed from the F-35 program, the ramifications would be felt far beyond the Turkish air force. It would be one of the most significant ruptures in recent history in the relationship with the United States, experts said.

Strains in ties between the United States and Ankara already extend beyond the F-35 to include conflicting strategy in Syria, Iran sanctions and the detention of U.S. consular staff in Turkey.

Still, Turkey seems to be moving ahead with the S-400 purchase, regardless of the U.S. warnings. President Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday it was “out of the question” for Turkey to back away from its deal with Moscow.

Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on May 22 that Turkish military personnel were receiving training in Russia to use the S-400, and that Russian personnel may go to Turkey.

The head of Russian state conglomerate Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, was quoted as saying on Friday that the country would start delivering S-400 missile systems to Turkey in two months.

Erdogan said the United States had not “given us an offer as good as the S-400s.”

Still, Lord held out hope for Turkey, noting that none of the U.S. decisions so far were irreversible.

“We’re hopeful that they will stop the acquisition of the S-400. We would very much like them to stay in the (F-35) program,” Lord said. </s> By Doug Cameron in Chicago and Ben Kesling in New York

The Pentagon put Turkey on notice that it will cut off Turkish military pilots from training and halt any Turkish purchases of the F-35 fighter jet, defense officials said Friday, exerting new pressure in a widening rift between the two allies.

Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan told his Turkish counterpart in a memo released Friday that if Ankara makes good on plans to purchase a Russian anti-aircraft system, the U.S. would take steps to discontinue Turkey's participation in the development and use of the plane.

The F-35 is by far the world's largest weapons program. Maker Lockheed Martin Corp. forecasts demand for at least 4,500 of the radar-evading jets over the course of the program, which analysts estimate could cost $400 billion.

The letter to Turkish officials increases pressure on the country to cut ties with Russia on a major defense initiative to reverse the U.S. decision to end a partnership providing one of the world's most-advanced fighter jets to the longtime North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally.

Turkey has been training with Russia and plans to purchase and field Moscow's S-400 missile system, an advanced surface-to-air missile developed to shoot down planes like the F-35 that is seen by NATO forces as a key Russian threat.

"While we seek to maintain our valued relationship, Turkey will not receive the F-35 if Turkey takes delivery of the S-400," Mr. Shanahan said in a letter sent Thursday to the Turkish defense minister which was released publicly on Friday.

The Turkish Embassy to the U.S. didn't respond to a request for comment.

The dispute over the S-400 is one of several issues straining U.S.-Turkey ties. The two countries have been negotiating the possible creation of a safe zone in Syria along Turkey's border. And under pressure from the U.S., Turkey has reluctantly cut off oil deals with Iran.

Mr. Shanahan said Turkey's involvement in the F-35 program will be frozen by July 31 unless Ankara ends its efforts to buy and field the Russian system. Mr. Shanahan also sent his Turkish counterpart, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, a detailed timeline of how the program would unwind, a stark threat that included a reminder that nothing has been finalized.

"You still have the option to change course on the S-400," he said.

Mr. Shanahan laid out the various knock-on effects that would come from fielding the Russian system.

"In addition to threatening the security of platforms like the F-35, Turkey's procurement of the S-400 will hinder your nation's ability to enhance or maintain cooperation with the United States and within NATO, lead to Turkish strategic and economic over-dependence on Russia, and undermine Turkey's very capable defense industry and ambitious economic development goals," he said.

Lockheed Martin oversees a global supply chain and analysts estimate there is as much as $3 million in Turkish content on each plane. That would have to be replaced, potentially inflating the price of the plane just as Lockheed Martin and its partners are trying to bring the price of the basic model down below $80 million.

Turkey is one of the largest F-35 export customers, with an order for 100 jets, third behind only the U.K. and Japan. It is one of eight country partners in the F-35, joining the program in 2002, before years of design and production problems delayed its entry into service by five years and added billions of dollars in cost.

Lockheed Martin, which derives around 30% of its sales from the F-35, has played down the impact of Turkey's ejection from the program.

Turkey has received four of the jets so far and is due to secure another eight annually over the next several years. The defense giant said those purchases can be replaced with potential new customers such as Singapore and Poland, as well as through expanded orders from countries including Japan.

"It will be backfilled," said Lockheed Martin Chief Executive Marillyn Hewson at an investor conference last week. "In fact, a lot of countries say: 'We'll take their slot.'"

The company expects to deliver 131 jets this year, rising to 160 by 2023. It didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

Local suppliers such as Turkish Aerospace Industries produce major parts for the plane, including a joint venture with Northrop Grumman Corp. to make the center fuselage. The Pentagon said it is developing alternative suppliers, but these can take time to certify and could interrupt or raise the cost of producing future jets.

Turkey has also been chosen to provide maintenance and repair services for itself and U.S. allies flying the jets, especially for the engines made by the Pratt & Whitney unit of United Technologies Corp.

Mr. Shanahan's actions aren't occurring in a vacuum. The Senate, which is working on the annual defense policy bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, included bipartisan-supported language to end the F-35 relationship if Turkey takes delivery of the S-400.

"The language essentially says in no uncertain terms that there won't be F-35s sent to Turkish territory if they buy the S-400," a Senate staffer said. "And they will be required to certify that they won't do so in the future." another staffer said.

While the House hasn't released final language on their authorization bill, similar terms are expected, according to people familiar with the matter.

The U.S. and other NATO allies want Turkey to instead buy the Patriot radar system made by Raytheon Co.

Write to Doug Cameron at doug.cameron@wsj.com and Ben Kesling at benjamin.kesling@wsj.com </s> Alwaght- The US once again has threatened Turkey not to by Russia to buy an S-400 missile defense system if it wants to continue participating in the F-35 fighter jet program.

Ellen Lord, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, told reporters on Friday that agreements with Turkish firms sub-contracted for manufacturing the F-35 stealth warplane will be cancelled unless Ankara gives up on the S-400 system by July 31.

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."

Two unnamed US officials told Reuters earlier on Friday that Washington would no longer accept any additional Turkish pilots to train on F-35 fighter jets.

Lord, however, said that even Turkish pilots currently training in the United States on the F-35 will be expelled too.

Currently, four Turkish pilots are receiving training on F-35 fighter jets at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and two more are working as instructors at the base. An additional 20 Turkish aircraft maintainers are also participating in the program, according to the US military.

Lord justified the US ultimatum by the fact that Turkey, a NATO ally of the United States, already has its personnel in Russia waiting to be trained with the S-400.

US officials previously said they wanted Ankara to opt for the American Patriot system instead, saying that option would allow the F-35 program to continue.

Turkey, which plans to buy 100 US F-35s, said it told the US that Ankara would buy Patriots only if Washington's conditions of delivery were as positive as Moscow's.

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

Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said he, in a letter, had informed his Turkish counterpart Hulusi Akar of Washington's new decision.

The US offer for the Patriots was "very competitive," Shanahan told reporters.

The S-400 is an advanced Russian missile system designed to detect, track, and destroy planes, drones, or missiles as far as over 400 kilometers away. It has previously been sold only to China and India.

Ankara is striving to boost its air defense, particularly after Washington decided in 2015 to withdraw its Patriot surface-to-air missile system from Turkish border with Syria, a move that weakened Turkey’s air defense.

Ankara has been critical of Washington for supporting Kurdish groups in Syria that he says are responsible for terror attacks inside Turkey, among other issues. </s> The Pentagon has warned Turkey that it has until July 31 to not purchase the Russian-made S-400 air defense missile system or the NATO ally will no longer be allowed to buy the sophisticated F-35 fighter or participate in any aspects of the program.

The move is the latest escalation in a high-stakes war of wills between the two NATO allies over whether Turkey should purchase a Russian weapons system that U.S. officials say is "incompatible" with America's most sophisticated stealth fighter.

"While we seek to maintain our valued relationship, Turkey will not receive the F-35 if Turkey takes delivery of the S-400, "Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan wrote in a letter Thursday to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar. "You still have the option to change course on the S-400,"

Shanahan warned Akar that the United States has developed a plan to discontinue Turkey's participation in the F-35 program by July 31 if it does not reverse its decision to purchase the S-400 missile system. The Russian system is believed to have a longer range and improved detection capabilities than American missile defense air systems.

The United States wants Turkey to purchase American-made Patriot anti-missile systems instead of the Russian-made S-400's. But Turkish leaders have been adamant that they prefer the Russian missile system that they say is markedly better than the American system.

But U.S. officials are most concerned that Russia could use the anti-missile system to pinpoint the stealth fighter's capabilities and potential vulnerabilities, particularly a radar profile that could make the stealth fighter detectable. Those concerns are why U.S. officials have said that the two systems are "incompatible".

"We do not want to have the F-35 in close proximity to the S-400 over a period of time because of the ability to understand the profile of the F-35 on that particular piece of equipment," Ellen Lord, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment told reporters on Friday.

In addition to not delivering the four F-35 aircraft that Turkey has already purchased Shanahan said no additional Turkish pilots would be trained in the United States past July 31. By that date, many Turkish pilots who have been training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona will have completed their courses prior to departing the United States.

The U.S. decision could also have an economic impact inside Turkey where more than 900 parts found inside the F-35 are built, as part of the original international consortium agreement for American allies to develop the F-35.

About 400 of those parts, found in the aircraft's landing gear and central fuselage, are exclusively made by Turkish manufacturers.

Lord said the Pentagon is already looking to make arrangements to find alternate production facilities in other countries by early 2020.

The Pentagon position seems to have been hardened by the recent acknowledgment by Turkey that it had already sent military personnel to Russia to train on the S-400 systems.
The United States notifies Turkey that it will cancel Turkey's purchase of F-35 fighter jets if the government goes ahead with purchasing Russia's S-400 missile defense system.