The Pentagon has decided to halt Lockheed Martin F-35 equipment delivery to Turkey after a bipartisan Senate bill called for the transfer delay until it is certain the nation will not purchase Russia’s S-400 Triumph defense system.
The Defense Departmenthas initiated steps necessary to ensure resiliency of the F-35 supply chain and secondary sources of supply for Turkish-produced parts that are now in development, Pentagon spokesman Charles Summers said in an April 1 statement.
“We very much regret the current situation facing our F-35 partnership with Turkey, and the DOD is taking prudent steps to protect the shared investments made in our critical technology,” Summers said. “Our important dialogue on this matter will continue. However, until they forgo delivery of the S-400, the United States has suspended deliveries and activities associated with the stand-up of Turkey’s F-35 operational capability. Should Turkey procure the S-400, their continued participation in the F-35 program is at risk.”
Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, the head of U.S. European Command and Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, told Congress on March 5 that the U.S. should withhold F-35s from Turkey if the NATO member accepts delivery of the S-400.
“My best military advice would be that we don’t then follow through with the F-35, flying it or working with an ally that is working with Russian air defense systems with ... what I would say is one of our most advanced technological capabilities,” Scaparrotti said.
In November the Pentagon submitted a congressionally mandated report saying that the White House will reassess Turkey’s continued F-35 participation should the nation continue with its purchase of the S-400. Aerospace DAILY obtained a copy of the report.
“The Turkish government has repeatedly and publicly stated that it has concluded an agreement to procure the S-400,” an unclassified executive summary of the Turkey report says. “The initial delivery date will reportedly occur as early as July 2019.”
Purchasing the S-400 would impact Turkey’s relations with the U.S. and the nation’s role in NATO. The risk in not participating in the F-35 program includes both aircraft acquisition and industrial workshare.
Turkey has invested more than $1.25 billion toward the F-35 program and intends to purchase 100 F-35A conventional-takeoff-and-landing aircraft. The country has established an F135 engine final assembly and checkout provider and is hosting a regional F135 maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade facility.
Orlando Carvalho, who at the time was executive vice president for aeronautics at Lockheed Martin, told Aerospace DAILY at the Farnborough Air Show last summer that if the U.S. blocks Turkey from receiving the F-35 there is a contingency plan for all the material the company sourced in Turkey. This is not unique to the F-35 program, but something the company has in place across its supply base, he said.
Section 231 of the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) requires the president to impose sanctions on any individuals or entities that engage in a significant transaction with the Russian intelligence or defense sector.
“Any sanctions would likely further complicate U.S.-Turkey bilateral relations, including U.S.-Turkey cooperative defense programs, and the supply to the United States and its partners of Turkish-made defense parts and components,” the document says. “Turkish acquisition programs that could be affected include but are not limited to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Patriot Air and Missile Defense System, CH-47F Chinook heavy-lift helicopter, UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft.”
The Trump administration has also developed an alternative package to provide Turkey with a NATO-interoperable air and missile defense system that meets the nation’s requirements, the document says. Parts of the package require congressional notification, and it is important that members support foreign military sales and direct commercial sales to Turkey so that the proposal is a real alternative, the document says.