rainman + 263 March 21, 2019 The United States could soon freeze preparations for delivering F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, officials told Reuters, in what would be the strongest signal yet by Washington that Ankara cannot have both the advanced aircraft and Russia’s S-400 air defense system.The United States is nearing an inflection point in a years-long standoff with Turkey, a NATO ally, after so far failing to sway President Tayyip Erdogan that buying a Russian air defense system would compromise the security of F-35 aircraft. “The S-400 is a computer. The F-35 is a computer. You don’t hook your computer to your adversary’s computer and that’s basically what we would be doing,” Katie Wheelbarger, acting assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, told Reuters.While no decision has been made yet, U.S. officials confirmed that Washington was considering halting steps now underway to ready Turkey to receive the F-35, which is built by Lockheed Martin Corp. “There (are) decisions that come up constantly about things being delivered in anticipation of them eventually taking custody of the planes,” said Wheelbarger. “So there’s a lot of things in train that can be paused to send signals to them (that we’re serious),” she added, without detailing those steps. However, another U.S. official said one of the measures the United States was looking at was alternatives to an engine depot in Turkey, without giving more details. The official said any potential alternatives would likely be somewhere in Western Europe. Turkey is home to an F-35 engine overhaul depot in the western city of Eskisehir. If Turkey was removed from the F-35 program, it would be the most serious crisis in the relationship between the two allies in decades, according to Bulent Aliriza, director of the Turkey project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel + 384 PP March 21, 2019 That would be "nice" exit Russia will just step up and take over... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
50 shades of black + 254 March 21, 2019 Well Done! Ottoman Republic and Big Russia... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
damirUSBiH + 327 DD March 21, 2019 Not sure.. F-35 jets to be delivered to Turkey in November "Despite some statements, the process of procuring F-35 jets is working fine. Our pilots and maintenance team continue training in the U.S.," Akar told reporters... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pinto + 293 PZ March 21, 2019 No F-35s, no Patriots ... good luck with Russia 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderBlade + 231 TB March 21, 2019 They have a good alternative MIG's, Sukhoi Su-57's👎 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rainman + 263 March 21, 2019 The logical move. Absolutely; never export high-tech weapons to countries that may share them with Russia or China... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
francoba + 93 fb March 21, 2019 Greece, Slovakia and Bulgaria have S-300s. Israeli F-35's train with Greek S-300's. So, market and money are talking everywhere... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shadowkin + 584 EA March 21, 2019 More like the ISIS effect...Russkies doing us another solid by giving us the perfect excuse to kick Turkey out of NATO for their enabling of ISIS...Russia has long term goal of dismembering Turkey 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites