US Senate Blocks F-35 Sale to Turkey
IsraelDefense
| 19/06/2018
Photo: Lockheed Martin
The US Senate has passed a $716 billion defense policy bill on Monday, which contains a clause that could remove Turkey from the F-35 production program over Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
Turkey is currently one of the partner countries in the F-35 program and had plans to buy about 100 of the stealth jets, which are manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, includes an amendment prohibiting sales to Turkey of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets unless Trump certifies Turkey is not threatening NATO, purchasing defense equipment from Russia or detaining US citizens.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim criticized the decision to block the sale of F-35s to Turkey. "This is an unfortunate development. But Turkey will not be left without an alternative. We regret such actions taken by the US Senate, they contradict the spirit of strategic partnership," Yildirim said.
[Sources: Reuters, Sputnik News]
Photo: Lockheed Martin
The US Senate has passed a $716 billion defense policy bill on Monday, which contains a clause that could remove Turkey from the F-35 production program over Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 missile defense systems.
Turkey is currently one of the partner countries in the F-35 program and had plans to buy about 100 of the stealth jets, which are manufactured by Lockheed Martin.
The National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, includes an amendment prohibiting sales to Turkey of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets unless Trump certifies Turkey is not threatening NATO, purchasing defense equipment from Russia or detaining US citizens.
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim criticized the decision to block the sale of F-35s to Turkey. "This is an unfortunate development. But Turkey will not be left without an alternative. We regret such actions taken by the US Senate, they contradict the spirit of strategic partnership," Yildirim said.
[Sources: Reuters, Sputnik News]
