F-35

Turkey will not turn back from a major arms deal with Russia despite the U.S. suspension of Ankara from the F-35 fighter-jet program, Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said on April 3.

Excluding NATO-member Turkey from the trillion-dollar F-35 fighter jet program would be challenging due to Ankara's integral role in the stealthy jet's production process, but not impossible, US sources familiar with the situation said.

The United States could soon freeze preparations for delivering  F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, officials told Reuters, in what would be the strongest signal yet by Washington that Ankara cannot have both the advanced aircraft and Russia's S-400 air defense system.

Turkey's Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on March 14 that F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. are expected to be delivered in November.

While Turkey is an important NATO ally, Washington should not supply Ankara with F-35 fighter jets if it accepts Russia's S-400 missile defense system, the top U.S. commander in Europe said on March 13.

Turkey's purchase of S-400 missile defense system from Russia has "nothing to do" with NATO, F-35 fighter jets or security of the U.S., President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on March 9.

The Turkish government must choose between purchasing an advanced Russian missile system or remaining a partner in the US's F-35 fighter jet program, the new head of the Senate Armed Services Committee reportedly told Bloomberg on Friday.

A growing number of people seem to object to the sale of F-35 fighters to Turkey, and are calling on the US administration and Congress to cancel, suspend or modify an existing order by Ankara for the advanced jets if the latter moves ahead with its planned purchase of the S-400 anti-aircraft weapon system from Russia.

The Paris Airshow opened under bright blue skies on June 19, with a new member of Boeing's best-selling 737 range set to vie for attention with a potentially huge order for F-35 fighter jets and a visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Greece is taking the first steps toward upgrading its existing F-16 fighter jets and purchasing, in due time, fifth-generation F-35 fighters.

The Defense Ministry revealed the news on Tuesday. Aides of Defense Minister Panos Kammenos said that the decision was taken in line with recommendations made by military chiefs.