US halts F-35 work, deliveries to Turkey

The United States said on Monday it was halting all deliveries and joint work with Turkey on the F-35 jetfighter programme after the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally insisted on a major arms purchase from Russia.

After months of warnings, the US said Turkey’s decision to buy Russia’s S-400 missile system was incompatible with remaining part of the emblematic US warplane programme.

“Until they forgo delivery of the S-400, the US has suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey’s F35 operational capability,” Pentagon chief spokesman Charles E. Summers Jr said.

“Should Turkey procure the S400, their continued participation in the F-35 programme is at risk,” he said.

US officials have voiced concern that, with Turkey in both camps, Russia could obtain F-35 data to improve the S-400’s accuracy against Western aircraft.

The Pentagon said it had started to look at secondary sources to produce parts for F-35s that were being developed in Turkey.

“We very much regret the current situation facing our F-35 partnership with Turkey, but the (Defence Department) is taking prudent steps to protect the shared investments in our critical technology,” Summers said.

Turkey had planned to buy 100 F-35A fighter jets, with pilots already training in the US. The plane’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, said contracts with Turkish companies to build F-35 parts had been expected to reach US$12 billion (RM49.2 billion).