The USA used the purchase of the S-400 air defense system from Russia as an excuse to exclude Turkey from the F-35 fighter program. This was stated by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan on the TV channel. A-news.
“The exclusion of the F-35 program was a reflection of our policy and desire to improve our air defense capabilities. We did not receive the support we expected from our NATO partners and we had an agreement with the Russian Federation on S-400. Fidan said, “The USA used this as an excuse to exclude Turkey from the F-35 program within its legal framework.”
4 February Turkish edition Aydınlık reportedHe said that the USA did not provide F-35s to Turkey, but demanded a fee for the maintenance of warplanes that were kept in warehouses for six consecutive years. We are talking about a figure of approximately 30 million dollars, the technical maintenance of the aircraft is carried out every month. The USA first requested funds for the storage and maintenance of these aircraft in 2022.
John Kirby, formerly White House Strategic Communications Coordinator statedIt was stated that the USA cannot provide fifth generation F-35 warplanes to Turkey because Ankara has Russian S-300 and S-400 air defense systems.
Previously USA approved Sale of F-35 to Greece.