https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/world/2019-07-20/doc-ihytcitm3370311.shtml
美国这招杀敌一千自损八百：F35有900种零件在土制造
2019年07月20日 14:16 环球网
3
[环球时报报道 特约记者 魏云峰]美国政府17日最终决定，将不听劝阻、坚持引进俄制S-400防空导弹的土耳其踢出F-35隐形战机项目。然而美国《防务新闻》17日称，白宫此举“杀敌一千自损八百”，美国仅直接经济损失就超过5亿美元，无论是对于美国、土耳其还是北约来说，这都是“三输”的结果。
白宫的决定让土耳其利益受损，但美国的日子也不好过。《防务新闻》称，美国国防部负责采购和保障业务的副部长洛德表示，目前F-35战机有超过900种零部件由土耳其制造，随着土耳其供应商被剔除，供应链多数将转移至美国工厂。迁移F-35战机的供应链，将给美国造成5亿到6亿美元损失。
但美国《空军时报》此前的报道显示，洛德对剔除F-35供应链里土耳其企业的后果明显“避重就轻”。目前有8家土耳其企业负责制造和组装F-35战机的机身、复合材料外壳、武器舱门、F-135发动机等。去年时任美国防长马蒂斯承认，如果土耳其企业撤出，将导致F-35的生产工作中断，延迟交付的F-35战机将多达50-75架，“需要约18-24个月才能重新恢复供应零件”。
土耳其购买的美制F-35战斗机
F-35项目的主要承包商、美国洛克希德·马丁公司17日在声明中表示：“这是政府间的决定，我们只能听从美国政府的指示……我们将继续努力实现今年交付131架F-35战机的承诺。”
英国《飞行国际》网站则说，由于土耳其订购的F-35战机总数超过当前欧洲采购数量（478架）的1/5，失去这个大客户对洛克希德·马丁而言可谓损失惨重。更糟糕的是，此举可能在欧洲产生连带效应，当前意大利和英国分别承诺引进90架和138架F-35系列战斗机，但土耳其的遭遇可能让这些国家重新考虑采购意向。
In the United States, this attack kills one thousand and loses eight hundred: the F35 has 900 parts made in the soil.
July 20, 2019 14:16 World Wide Web
3
[Global Times report special correspondent Wei Yunfeng] The US government finally decided on the 17th that it will not dissuade and insist on the introduction of the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft missile to kick out the F-35 stealth fighter project. However, the US "Defense News" said on the 17th that the White House's move "killing the enemy a thousand losses of 800", the United States only directly suffered economic losses of more than 500 million US dollars, whether for the United States, Turkey or NATO, this is " The result of three losses.
The White House’s decision has hurt Turkey’s interests, but the United States’ days are not good. "Defense News" said that the US Defense Department's deputy director of procurement and security business, Lord Lod, said that the current F-35 fighters have more than 900 parts manufactured in Turkey, and with the Turkish suppliers removed, most of the supply chain will be transferred to American factory. The migration of the F-35's supply chain will cost the US $500 million to $600 million.
However, previous reports by the US Air Force Times showed that Lord’s consequences for eliminating Turkish companies in the F-35 supply chain were obviously “avoiding lightness”. There are currently eight Turkish companies responsible for the manufacture and assembly of the F-35 aircraft fuselage, composite casing, weapon door, F-135 engine. Last year, the US Defense Minister Matisse admitted that if the Turkish company withdraws, the production of the F-35 will be interrupted, and the delayed delivery of the F-35 will be as many as 50-75. "It takes about 18-24 months." In order to resume the supply of parts."
US-made F-35 fighter aircraft purchased in Turkey
The main contractor of the F-35 project, Lockheed Martin of the United States said in a statement on the 17th: "This is an intergovernmental decision. We can only follow the instructions of the US government... We will continue to work hard to achieve 131 aircraft this year. The promise of the F-35."
The British "Flight International" website said that because Turkey ordered more than one-fifth of the current number of F-35 fighters in Europe (478), losing this big customer was a huge loss for Lockheed Martin. To make matters worse, this move may have a collateral effect in Europe. Currently Italy and the United Kingdom are committed to introduce 90 and 138 F-35 series fighters respectively, but the experience of Turkey may allow these countries to reconsider their purchasing intentions.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usa-officially-boots-turkey-from-f-35-programme-459762/
The USA officially removed Turkey from the Joint Strike Fighter programme – the international effort to develop and manufacture the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter – less than a week after the country received shipments of the first components of Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile battery.
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf’s anti-stealth capabilities are viewed by the USA as a threat to the F-35 stealth fighter, especially if the aircraft regularly comes within the surface-to-air missile and radar system's range.
Washington has also said the Russian weapon can’t be networked with other NATO air defence systems, which it claims would make coordinating air defence with Ankara more difficult.
F-35A at ceremony for Turkey
Lockheed Martin
“As other US officials and I have clearly said, Turkey cannot field a Russian intelligence collection platform in proximity to where the F-35 programme makes, repairs and houses the F-35,” said Ellen Lord, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, in a press briefing on 17 July. “Much of the F-35's strength lies in its stealth capabilities, so the ability to detect those capabilities would jeopardise the long-term security of the F-35 programme.”
The USA plans to spend $500-600 million in non-recurring engineering to shift the supply chain away from Turkish manufacturers by March of 2020, says Lord. Turkey made more than 900 parts for the F-35 and had been assigned more than $1 billion worth of industrial participation contracts across 10 Turkish companies. Turkish industry was projected to receive up to $12 billion in F-35 work over the life of the programme.
“To bridge the gap initially, to mitigate Turkey's removal, the programme will use primarily US sources for Turkey's workshare, but this will gradually open up to programme partners for first, second and third sources,” says Lord.
Lockheed Martin expects minimal impact to its production schedule.
“Over the last several months we’ve been working to establish alternative sources of supply in the United States to quickly accommodate Turkey’s current contributions to the programme,” the company says. “These actions will limit any future production or sustainment impact and we remain on track to meet our commitment of delivering 131 F-35s this year.”
Turkey had planned to buy 100 F-35A stealth fighters, about 20% of Lockheed Martin’s sales in Europe over the next decade.
Lord declined to comment on whether Turkish pilots or maintainers who are in the USA for training could provide Russia with intelligence on the F-35’s capabilities or radar cross section. All Turkish pilots and maintainers are supposed to leave the USA by 31 July and have firm plans to do so, she says.
The USA had offered Turkey the Raytheon Patriot surface-to-air missile system in place of the S-400, but the country had declined to purchase the American-made battery. David Trachtenberg, deputy under secretary of defense for policy, declined to say whether the Patriot was a better weapon.
“I'm not going to talk about specific capabilities and what is superior or what is inferior,” he says. “I will tell you, it is clear that we have offered the Patriot to Turkey on multiple occasions.”
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/07/18/turkey-f-35-program-excluded/
Turkey excluded from F-35 stealth jet program after S-400 deliveries from Russia
Staff Writer July 18, 2019
6 minutes read
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The White House confirmed that Turkey would be excluded from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program after it purchased the Russian S-400 air defense missile system despite warnings from Western allies.
The Pentagon later confirmed that a process is already underway to move the production of Turkey-made F-35 parts – worth at least $9 billion to Turkish manufacturers – to suppliers in the United States and other countries.
“Unfortunately, Turkey’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible,” White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham said in a Wednesday, July 17 statement.
The Lockheed Martin-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter “cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities,” she added.
Grisham said the U.S. was “actively working with Turkey to provide air defense solutions” and had made “multiple” offers of its own Patriot air defense missile system to Turkey.
However, Turkey went ahead and acquired the Russian system, running counter to a NATO pledge to reduce reliance on Russian systems.
“Accepting the S-400 undermines the commitments all NATO Allies made to each other to move away from Russian systems,” Grisham said. “This will have detrimental impacts on Turkish interoperability with the Alliance.”
Concerns have been raised by Turkey’s NATO allies about data security with the S-400 air defense system, particularly around the F-35. There are fears that F-35s flown in Turkey could be detected by its own S-400 radar systems, and that data sent to Russia could be used to improve detection and targeting of the stealthy F-35 by Russian equipment.
In addition, Turkey wants to connect the F-35 systems with the Turkish Air Force information network, HvBS. If the S-400 is also connected to the HvBS, there is a risk that data collected by the advanced Joint Strike Fighter’s sensors may end up being transmitted to Russia.
Grisham added that the United States “still greatly values” its strategic relationship with Turkey and would “continue to cooperate with Turkey extensively, mindful of constraints due to the presence of the S-400 system in Turkey.”
A training exercise by the Russian Baltic Fleet’s air defense units involving S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems, January 26, 2017. Image: Vitaly Nevar/Tass Trump blames ‘tough situation’ on Obama
The announcement came five days after Turkey began taking delivery of parts for the S-400 missile system that it agreed to purchase in September 2017, shrugging off two years of warnings from the United States and other NATO allies that it could imperil their relationship.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declined to criticize Turkey for the S-400 purchase, falsely charging that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was unfairly forced into the move by his White House predecessor Barack Obama.
The U.S. Department of State cleared a possible $3.5 billion sale of Patriot air defense systems to Turkey in December, although the Department of Defense has warned that that acquisition, along with those of CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft could be affected by its going ahead with the S-400 purchase.
“I’ve had a good relationship with President Erdogan,” Trump told journalists.
“It’s a very tough situation that they’re in and it’s a very tough situation that we’ve been placed in… With all of that being said, we’re working through it – we’ll see what happens,” he said.
The F-35 consortium members – Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States – all bid for competitive contracts to develop and manufacture parts for the jet.
Turkey has ordered 30 jets and is slated to purchase 100 in total. The first of its four completed F-35s was delivered to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in June 2018 for pilot training, but the U.S. has said it will not allow them to leave the country.
“Because they have a system of missiles that’s made in Russia, they’re now prohibited from buying over 100 planes. I would say that Lockheed isn’t exactly happy. That’s a lot of jobs,” Trump said.
Later on Wednesday, Turkey’s foreign ministry lambasted the U.S. move as “unfair.”
“This one-sided step neither complies with the spirit of alliance nor is it based on legitimate reasons,” the ministry said in a statement.
“It is unfair to remove Turkey, one of the partners in the F-35 program,” the ministry said, and dismissed claims the Russian S-400 system would be a danger to the F-35s.
“We invite the U.S. to take back this error which will pave the way to irreparable damage to our strategic relations,” the ministry added.
F-35A Lightning II aircraft moves to refuel, July 13, 2016 on a flight from the UK to the United States. Image: US Air Force /Staff Sgt. Madelyn Brown Turkish manufacturers dropped from F-35 program
At the Pentagon, officials said operations were already underway to move the production of around 900 parts Turkey was to provide for the F-35s to suppliers in the United States and other countries, cementing an April statement from Acting Chief Pentagon spokesperson Charles E. Summers Jr. who then said the U.S. was halting deliveries to Turkey related to the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, warning that “Secondary sources of supply for Turkish-produced parts are now in development.”
Pentagon officials also confirmed that Turkish F-35 technicians and pilots training in the United States would leave by the end of this month, and that Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program will be wound down by March 2020.
“Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 is inconsistent with its commitments to NATO,” said Ellen Lord, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
“Turkey will certainly and regrettably lose jobs and future economic opportunities from this decision,” she said, although she repeatedly referred to a “suspension” of Turkish participation in the F-35 program, perhaps pointing to a potential twist to come in the years-long saga.
Turkey had work commitments worth $1 billion to supply the F-35 program, and could have expected a total of $9 billion in orders over the life of the program, according to Lord, although Lockheed Martin has said that contracts with Turkish companies to build F-35 parts had been expected to reach $12 billion.
In July 2018, then-Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned of significant delays if Turkish companies were removed from the F-35 program, saying that “it would result in an aircraft production break, delaying delivery of 50-75 jets and would take approximately 18-24 months to re-source parts,” Bloomberg reported.
Referring to the Mattis’ warning, Lord said the U.S. has been working on “alternate sources for the over 900 parts” since 2018.
“To bridge the gap initially to mitigate Turkey’s removal, the program will use primarily U.S. sources for Turkey’s work share, but this will gradually open up to program partners for first, second and third sources,” Lord said.
“The United States is spending between $500 million and $600 million in non-recurring engineering in order to shift the supply chain,” Lord said.
According to Forecast International, Turkish Aerospace Industries was slated to deliver 400 center fuselages, and the company also produces weapons bay doors, air-to-ground pylons, air inlet ducts and other components.
Other important Turkish suppliers include: Ayesas, which is the sole source supplier of both the panoramic cockpit display and the missile remote interface unit; Alp Aviation, which makes metal airframe structures, landing gear components, and F135 engine parts; and Fokker Elmo Turkey (GKN), which makes wiring systems for the F-35 and the F135 engine.
Turkey was also selected as a Regional F135 Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade Facility.
An S-400 Triumf air defense missile system of the Russian Southern Military District’s missile regiment on combat duty in Sevastopol, January 13, 2018. Sergei Malgavko/Tass Pentagon insists Turkey remains a strong ally
In addition, the U.S. Congress has required countries that make significant purchases of Russian defense equipment to be subjected to punitive sanctions.
The State Department said Wednesday that no decision has been made yet on sanctions over the S-400 deal.
David Trachtenberg, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, repeated that Turkey remains a strong ally of the United States and would continue participating in NATO exercises.
“We will continue to participate with Turkey in multilateral exercises to improve readiness and interoperability, including upcoming exercises in Georgia, Germany and Ukraine,” he told reporters, but he did not say whether exercises that include Turkey will involve F-35s.
Asked if Turkey could be ejected from NATO after nearly seven decades as a member, he replied: “That’s a decision for the NATO alliance … That’s not for us here to decide.”
Over the past five years, NATO has deployed up to six Patriot missile defense batteries to protect Turkey’s southern border against missiles fired from Syria.
On July 4, Italy’s lower house of parliament approved the extension of the deployment of its Eurosam SAMP-T air defense missile system in the southeastern Kahramanmaras province until the end of the year.
A week earlier, Spain similarly extended the deployment of its U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile system in Adana province. Both were deployed after Turkey requested help from NATO, and the alliance must formally approve the extension, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Turkey is also working on indigenous air defense systems.
Then-Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said in November 2017 that Turkey agreed with Eurosam to develop an air defense missile system and to own the technology with Turkey’s “own local resources.” Canikli signed a letter of intent with the defense ministers of France and Italy that month, paving the way for Turkey’s purchase of Eurosam SAMP-T launcher systems and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles.
Turkey is also developing its own HISAR short-range, low-altitude air defense missile system intended to target aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
With reporting from AFP
美国这招杀敌一千自损八百：F35有900种零件在土制造
2019年07月20日 14:16 环球网
3
[环球时报报道 特约记者 魏云峰]美国政府17日最终决定，将不听劝阻、坚持引进俄制S-400防空导弹的土耳其踢出F-35隐形战机项目。然而美国《防务新闻》17日称，白宫此举“杀敌一千自损八百”，美国仅直接经济损失就超过5亿美元，无论是对于美国、土耳其还是北约来说，这都是“三输”的结果。
白宫的决定让土耳其利益受损，但美国的日子也不好过。《防务新闻》称，美国国防部负责采购和保障业务的副部长洛德表示，目前F-35战机有超过900种零部件由土耳其制造，随着土耳其供应商被剔除，供应链多数将转移至美国工厂。迁移F-35战机的供应链，将给美国造成5亿到6亿美元损失。
但美国《空军时报》此前的报道显示，洛德对剔除F-35供应链里土耳其企业的后果明显“避重就轻”。目前有8家土耳其企业负责制造和组装F-35战机的机身、复合材料外壳、武器舱门、F-135发动机等。去年时任美国防长马蒂斯承认，如果土耳其企业撤出，将导致F-35的生产工作中断，延迟交付的F-35战机将多达50-75架，“需要约18-24个月才能重新恢复供应零件”。
土耳其购买的美制F-35战斗机
F-35项目的主要承包商、美国洛克希德·马丁公司17日在声明中表示：“这是政府间的决定，我们只能听从美国政府的指示……我们将继续努力实现今年交付131架F-35战机的承诺。”
英国《飞行国际》网站则说，由于土耳其订购的F-35战机总数超过当前欧洲采购数量（478架）的1/5，失去这个大客户对洛克希德·马丁而言可谓损失惨重。更糟糕的是，此举可能在欧洲产生连带效应，当前意大利和英国分别承诺引进90架和138架F-35系列战斗机，但土耳其的遭遇可能让这些国家重新考虑采购意向。
In the United States, this attack kills one thousand and loses eight hundred: the F35 has 900 parts made in the soil.
July 20, 2019 14:16 World Wide Web
3
[Global Times report special correspondent Wei Yunfeng] The US government finally decided on the 17th that it will not dissuade and insist on the introduction of the Russian-made S-400 anti-aircraft missile to kick out the F-35 stealth fighter project. However, the US "Defense News" said on the 17th that the White House's move "killing the enemy a thousand losses of 800", the United States only directly suffered economic losses of more than 500 million US dollars, whether for the United States, Turkey or NATO, this is " The result of three losses.
The White House’s decision has hurt Turkey’s interests, but the United States’ days are not good. "Defense News" said that the US Defense Department's deputy director of procurement and security business, Lord Lod, said that the current F-35 fighters have more than 900 parts manufactured in Turkey, and with the Turkish suppliers removed, most of the supply chain will be transferred to American factory. The migration of the F-35's supply chain will cost the US $500 million to $600 million.
However, previous reports by the US Air Force Times showed that Lord’s consequences for eliminating Turkish companies in the F-35 supply chain were obviously “avoiding lightness”. There are currently eight Turkish companies responsible for the manufacture and assembly of the F-35 aircraft fuselage, composite casing, weapon door, F-135 engine. Last year, the US Defense Minister Matisse admitted that if the Turkish company withdraws, the production of the F-35 will be interrupted, and the delayed delivery of the F-35 will be as many as 50-75. "It takes about 18-24 months." In order to resume the supply of parts."
US-made F-35 fighter aircraft purchased in Turkey
The main contractor of the F-35 project, Lockheed Martin of the United States said in a statement on the 17th: "This is an intergovernmental decision. We can only follow the instructions of the US government... We will continue to work hard to achieve 131 aircraft this year. The promise of the F-35."
The British "Flight International" website said that because Turkey ordered more than one-fifth of the current number of F-35 fighters in Europe (478), losing this big customer was a huge loss for Lockheed Martin. To make matters worse, this move may have a collateral effect in Europe. Currently Italy and the United Kingdom are committed to introduce 90 and 138 F-35 series fighters respectively, but the experience of Turkey may allow these countries to reconsider their purchasing intentions.
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/usa-officially-boots-turkey-from-f-35-programme-459762/
The USA officially removed Turkey from the Joint Strike Fighter programme – the international effort to develop and manufacture the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter – less than a week after the country received shipments of the first components of Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile battery.
The Almaz-Antey S-400 Triumf’s anti-stealth capabilities are viewed by the USA as a threat to the F-35 stealth fighter, especially if the aircraft regularly comes within the surface-to-air missile and radar system's range.
Washington has also said the Russian weapon can’t be networked with other NATO air defence systems, which it claims would make coordinating air defence with Ankara more difficult.
F-35A at ceremony for Turkey
Lockheed Martin
“As other US officials and I have clearly said, Turkey cannot field a Russian intelligence collection platform in proximity to where the F-35 programme makes, repairs and houses the F-35,” said Ellen Lord, under secretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, in a press briefing on 17 July. “Much of the F-35's strength lies in its stealth capabilities, so the ability to detect those capabilities would jeopardise the long-term security of the F-35 programme.”
The USA plans to spend $500-600 million in non-recurring engineering to shift the supply chain away from Turkish manufacturers by March of 2020, says Lord. Turkey made more than 900 parts for the F-35 and had been assigned more than $1 billion worth of industrial participation contracts across 10 Turkish companies. Turkish industry was projected to receive up to $12 billion in F-35 work over the life of the programme.
“To bridge the gap initially, to mitigate Turkey's removal, the programme will use primarily US sources for Turkey's workshare, but this will gradually open up to programme partners for first, second and third sources,” says Lord.
Lockheed Martin expects minimal impact to its production schedule.
“Over the last several months we’ve been working to establish alternative sources of supply in the United States to quickly accommodate Turkey’s current contributions to the programme,” the company says. “These actions will limit any future production or sustainment impact and we remain on track to meet our commitment of delivering 131 F-35s this year.”
Turkey had planned to buy 100 F-35A stealth fighters, about 20% of Lockheed Martin’s sales in Europe over the next decade.
Lord declined to comment on whether Turkish pilots or maintainers who are in the USA for training could provide Russia with intelligence on the F-35’s capabilities or radar cross section. All Turkish pilots and maintainers are supposed to leave the USA by 31 July and have firm plans to do so, she says.
The USA had offered Turkey the Raytheon Patriot surface-to-air missile system in place of the S-400, but the country had declined to purchase the American-made battery. David Trachtenberg, deputy under secretary of defense for policy, declined to say whether the Patriot was a better weapon.
“I'm not going to talk about specific capabilities and what is superior or what is inferior,” he says. “I will tell you, it is clear that we have offered the Patriot to Turkey on multiple occasions.”
https://thedefensepost.com/2019/07/18/turkey-f-35-program-excluded/
Turkey excluded from F-35 stealth jet program after S-400 deliveries from Russia
Staff Writer July 18, 20196 minutes read
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The White House confirmed that Turkey would be excluded from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program after it purchased the Russian S-400 air defense missile system despite warnings from Western allies.
The Pentagon later confirmed that a process is already underway to move the production of Turkey-made F-35 parts – worth at least $9 billion to Turkish manufacturers – to suppliers in the United States and other countries.
“Unfortunately, Turkey’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defense systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible,” White House spokesperson Stephanie Grisham said in a Wednesday, July 17 statement.
The Lockheed Martin-made F-35 Joint Strike Fighter “cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities,” she added.
Grisham said the U.S. was “actively working with Turkey to provide air defense solutions” and had made “multiple” offers of its own Patriot air defense missile system to Turkey.
However, Turkey went ahead and acquired the Russian system, running counter to a NATO pledge to reduce reliance on Russian systems.
“Accepting the S-400 undermines the commitments all NATO Allies made to each other to move away from Russian systems,” Grisham said. “This will have detrimental impacts on Turkish interoperability with the Alliance.”
Concerns have been raised by Turkey’s NATO allies about data security with the S-400 air defense system, particularly around the F-35. There are fears that F-35s flown in Turkey could be detected by its own S-400 radar systems, and that data sent to Russia could be used to improve detection and targeting of the stealthy F-35 by Russian equipment.
In addition, Turkey wants to connect the F-35 systems with the Turkish Air Force information network, HvBS. If the S-400 is also connected to the HvBS, there is a risk that data collected by the advanced Joint Strike Fighter’s sensors may end up being transmitted to Russia.
Grisham added that the United States “still greatly values” its strategic relationship with Turkey and would “continue to cooperate with Turkey extensively, mindful of constraints due to the presence of the S-400 system in Turkey.”
A training exercise by the Russian Baltic Fleet’s air defense units involving S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems, January 26, 2017. Image: Vitaly Nevar/Tass Trump blames ‘tough situation’ on ObamaThe announcement came five days after Turkey began taking delivery of parts for the S-400 missile system that it agreed to purchase in September 2017, shrugging off two years of warnings from the United States and other NATO allies that it could imperil their relationship.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump declined to criticize Turkey for the S-400 purchase, falsely charging that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan was unfairly forced into the move by his White House predecessor Barack Obama.
The U.S. Department of State cleared a possible $3.5 billion sale of Patriot air defense systems to Turkey in December, although the Department of Defense has warned that that acquisition, along with those of CH-47F Chinook heavy lift helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopters, and F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft could be affected by its going ahead with the S-400 purchase.
“I’ve had a good relationship with President Erdogan,” Trump told journalists.
“It’s a very tough situation that they’re in and it’s a very tough situation that we’ve been placed in… With all of that being said, we’re working through it – we’ll see what happens,” he said.
The F-35 consortium members – Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States – all bid for competitive contracts to develop and manufacture parts for the jet.
Turkey has ordered 30 jets and is slated to purchase 100 in total. The first of its four completed F-35s was delivered to Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in June 2018 for pilot training, but the U.S. has said it will not allow them to leave the country.
“Because they have a system of missiles that’s made in Russia, they’re now prohibited from buying over 100 planes. I would say that Lockheed isn’t exactly happy. That’s a lot of jobs,” Trump said.
Later on Wednesday, Turkey’s foreign ministry lambasted the U.S. move as “unfair.”
“This one-sided step neither complies with the spirit of alliance nor is it based on legitimate reasons,” the ministry said in a statement.
“It is unfair to remove Turkey, one of the partners in the F-35 program,” the ministry said, and dismissed claims the Russian S-400 system would be a danger to the F-35s.
“We invite the U.S. to take back this error which will pave the way to irreparable damage to our strategic relations,” the ministry added.
F-35A Lightning II aircraft moves to refuel, July 13, 2016 on a flight from the UK to the United States. Image: US Air Force /Staff Sgt. Madelyn Brown Turkish manufacturers dropped from F-35 programAt the Pentagon, officials said operations were already underway to move the production of around 900 parts Turkey was to provide for the F-35s to suppliers in the United States and other countries, cementing an April statement from Acting Chief Pentagon spokesperson Charles E. Summers Jr. who then said the U.S. was halting deliveries to Turkey related to the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, warning that “Secondary sources of supply for Turkish-produced parts are now in development.”
Pentagon officials also confirmed that Turkish F-35 technicians and pilots training in the United States would leave by the end of this month, and that Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program will be wound down by March 2020.
“Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 is inconsistent with its commitments to NATO,” said Ellen Lord, the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment.
“Turkey will certainly and regrettably lose jobs and future economic opportunities from this decision,” she said, although she repeatedly referred to a “suspension” of Turkish participation in the F-35 program, perhaps pointing to a potential twist to come in the years-long saga.
Turkey had work commitments worth $1 billion to supply the F-35 program, and could have expected a total of $9 billion in orders over the life of the program, according to Lord, although Lockheed Martin has said that contracts with Turkish companies to build F-35 parts had been expected to reach $12 billion.
In July 2018, then-Secretary of Defense James Mattis warned of significant delays if Turkish companies were removed from the F-35 program, saying that “it would result in an aircraft production break, delaying delivery of 50-75 jets and would take approximately 18-24 months to re-source parts,” Bloomberg reported.
Referring to the Mattis’ warning, Lord said the U.S. has been working on “alternate sources for the over 900 parts” since 2018.
“To bridge the gap initially to mitigate Turkey’s removal, the program will use primarily U.S. sources for Turkey’s work share, but this will gradually open up to program partners for first, second and third sources,” Lord said.
“The United States is spending between $500 million and $600 million in non-recurring engineering in order to shift the supply chain,” Lord said.
According to Forecast International, Turkish Aerospace Industries was slated to deliver 400 center fuselages, and the company also produces weapons bay doors, air-to-ground pylons, air inlet ducts and other components.
Other important Turkish suppliers include: Ayesas, which is the sole source supplier of both the panoramic cockpit display and the missile remote interface unit; Alp Aviation, which makes metal airframe structures, landing gear components, and F135 engine parts; and Fokker Elmo Turkey (GKN), which makes wiring systems for the F-35 and the F135 engine.
Turkey was also selected as a Regional F135 Maintenance, Repair, Overhaul, and Upgrade Facility.
An S-400 Triumf air defense missile system of the Russian Southern Military District’s missile regiment on combat duty in Sevastopol, January 13, 2018. Sergei Malgavko/Tass Pentagon insists Turkey remains a strong allyIn addition, the U.S. Congress has required countries that make significant purchases of Russian defense equipment to be subjected to punitive sanctions.
The State Department said Wednesday that no decision has been made yet on sanctions over the S-400 deal.
David Trachtenberg, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, repeated that Turkey remains a strong ally of the United States and would continue participating in NATO exercises.
“We will continue to participate with Turkey in multilateral exercises to improve readiness and interoperability, including upcoming exercises in Georgia, Germany and Ukraine,” he told reporters, but he did not say whether exercises that include Turkey will involve F-35s.
Asked if Turkey could be ejected from NATO after nearly seven decades as a member, he replied: “That’s a decision for the NATO alliance … That’s not for us here to decide.”
Over the past five years, NATO has deployed up to six Patriot missile defense batteries to protect Turkey’s southern border against missiles fired from Syria.
On July 4, Italy’s lower house of parliament approved the extension of the deployment of its Eurosam SAMP-T air defense missile system in the southeastern Kahramanmaras province until the end of the year.
A week earlier, Spain similarly extended the deployment of its U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile system in Adana province. Both were deployed after Turkey requested help from NATO, and the alliance must formally approve the extension, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
Turkey is also working on indigenous air defense systems.
Then-Defense Minister Nurettin Canikli said in November 2017 that Turkey agreed with Eurosam to develop an air defense missile system and to own the technology with Turkey’s “own local resources.” Canikli signed a letter of intent with the defense ministers of France and Italy that month, paving the way for Turkey’s purchase of Eurosam SAMP-T launcher systems and Aster 30 surface-to-air missiles.
Turkey is also developing its own HISAR short-range, low-altitude air defense missile system intended to target aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
With reporting from AFP
