Turkey is continuing to build installation and maintenance facilities to service F-35 fighter jets, being jointly developed with the United States, despite US threats to cut Ankara off for plans to buy Russian defense systems, Ismail Demir, the Turkish undersecretary for defense industries, said
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 15th May, 2019) Turkey is continuing to build installation and maintenance facilities to service F-35 fighter jets, being jointly developed with the United States, despite US threats to cut Ankara off for plans to buy Russian defense systems, Ismail Demir, the Turkish undersecretary for defense industries, said.On Monday, the US Defense Department announced that it was seeking new parts suppliers for the F-35 Lightening II fighter jet to replace those coming from Turkey in the case that Ankara went ahead with its plans to purchase Russia's S-400 air defense system.
"As an F-35 project partner, we are continuing to fulfill all of our responsibilities and share of work," Demir said on Tuesday, as quoted by the Turkish Anadolu news agency.
In 2014, the US Defense Department first announced its intentions to build a F-35 maintenance and repair center in Turkey under the Joint Strike Fighter plan. The program includes the design, development, production and logistical support for F-35 fighter jets on a global scale.
However, tensions between the United States and Turkey have recently been high over Ankara's possible purchase of Russia's defense systems. The United States claims that the S-400 system is incompatible with the US and European systems, but Turkey maintains that the potential purchase is meant to ensure its security and is not directed at the United States or NATO.
