Pentagon Gives Turkey a Deadline to Cancel S-400 Deal or Lose F-35

The Pentagon has started the process of removing Turkey from the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, and has drawn up plans to shift the NATO ally’s manufacturing roles to American and allied manufacturers, U.S. defense officials said Friday.

Washington has given Ankara a deadline: by July 31, Turkey must cancel its order of Russian S-400 missile interceptors — or lose its right to buy 100 F-35s and make parts for even more of the high-tech jets, Pentagon acquisition chief Ellen Lord told reporters on Friday.

“As we have very clearly communicated at all levels, Turkey will not receive the F-35 if Turkey takes delivery of the S-400 system,” Lord said. “Thus we need to begin unwinding Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program.”

U.S. officials worry that the S-400 radar would gather technical details about F-35s, then pass them back to Russia, which will use the information to improve the S-400’s ability to down the jet.

In a June 6 letter to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said American officials were “disappointed” that Turkish military officials were in Russia learning how to use the S-400.

That prompted the Defense Department to announce it would kick out Turkish pilots learning to fly the F-35 at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona by July 31. Turkey has four F-35s at Luke. Later this year, F-35-maker Lockheed Martin was supposed to deliver the first jet to be based in Turkey.

Turkish business executives are being barred from an upcoming CEOs meeting on June 12, U.S. officials said.

Earlier this year, the United States halted shipments to Turkey of F-35 equipment needed to fly the plane and stand up a maintenance facility for the aircraft.

Turkey manufactures key part of the F-35, including landing gear and the center fuselage. In all, 937 of the planes parts are made in Turkey. About 400 of those parts are used in all U.S. allies aircraft. Most of the back-up suppliers, Lord said, are U.S. companies.

Turkey’s “current workshare will be transitioned to alternate sources as they are qualified and come to rate production,” she said. “This deliberate, measured approach, intended to allow our Turkish counterparts to adjust to this transition, will be greatly accelerated if Turkey accepts delivery of the S-400 prior to July 31.”

Last month, Lockheed Martin CEO Marillyn Hewson said other countries were interested in buying jets currently being built for Turkey.

Several times during Friday’s briefing, U.S. defense officials stressed that Turkey could easily resume full participation in the F-35 program.

“None of the steps we are taking are irreversible,” Lord said. “If Turkey chooses to forgo delivery of the S-400, we look forward to restoring normal program activity.”