Reuters

U.S. to work with Turkey on F-35 parts until 2022, state media citing
Pentagon says

July 1, 2020

ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The United States will continue working with
Turkish companies producing some parts of F-35 fighter jets until
2022, Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu agency quoted a Pentagon
spokeswoman as saying on Wednesday.

Turkey said in May it was still producing and delivering parts for the
stealth jets despite being suspended from the programme nearly a year
ago over its purchase of Russian S-400 anti-aircraft defence systems.

Turkey was both a parts manufacturer and major buyer of the Lockheed
Martin F-35s. Washington says the S-400s jeopardise the jets - which
Ankara denies - and are incompatible with NATO defence systems.

Anadolu quoted Pentagon spokeswoman Jessica Maxwell as saying the
Turkish companies would continue to produce 139 components of the jets
until 2022. “Our industry partners will carry out the continuing
contracts,” she said, adding the Pentagon was still looking for
alternatives to Turkey.

The Pentagon was not immediately available to comment.

Washington announced last July - when the first Russian S-400 units
arrived in Turkey - that it was suspending Ankara from the F-35
programme and expected to “wind down” Turkey’s involvement by March
2020.

The United States also said the purchase meant Turkey could be
subjected to sanctions under U.S. legislation aimed at discouraging
defence purchases from Moscow.

Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen; Editing by Jonathan Spicer