Turkey Seeks To Buy 120 US F-35 Jets - Erdogan
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published December 17, 2018 | 12:12 AM
MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th December, 2018) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday that Ankara intended to buy 120 US-made F-35 fighter jets amid speculations that the transfer might be halted.
"We will buy 120 F-35 aircraft produced by the United States. Some of the components for the aircraft are produced in Turkey," Erdogan said, speaking at a rally in Istanbul, which was aired by the NTV broadcaster.
On Saturday, Erdogan's aide Ibrahim Kalin told reporters on the sidelines of the Doha Forum that Ankara had doubts that the United States may cancel the deliveries of its F-35 fighters to Turkey if the latter buys the Russian air defense system S-400.
US officials have warned that if Ankara goes ahead with its plans to purchase the S-400 systems, the United States could withhold the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey.
In addition, the US Congress has passed legislation that would block the transfer of the jets. On December 5, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu noted that Ankara did not see any problems with the supply of F-35 fighter jets.
The first two F-35 fighter jets were transferred to Turkey at defense contractor Lockheed Martin's facility in Fort Worth, Texas in June. According to Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, the United States will hand over two more F-35s in March 2019.The purchase is made under the US-sponsored multinational F-35 development program, which Ankara joined in 2002.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Mired in crisis, Boeing reports another loss
Session Awarding Ceremony 2024 held at Cadet College Muzaffarabad
Austrian ski great Hirscher to make comeback under Dutch flag
Pakistan, Japan agrees to convene 'Economic Policy Dialogue'
FM Dar conveys deepest sympathy on torrential rains devastation in UAE
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results - 1st update
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
Osaka seals first win on clay since 2022 in Madrid
Earthquake jolts Karachi
Sindh minister orders operation after attack on police in Ghotki
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
More Stories From World
-
Football: English Championship table
2 hours ago -
Time for 'democratic transition' in Venezuela: opposition candidate to AFP
2 hours ago -
Spain's Pedro Sanchez : a risk-taker with a flair for survival
2 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 table
2 hours ago -
Nadal will only play French Open if he can 'compete well'
3 hours ago -
Ukraine, Israel, TikTok: the massive aid package before US Congress
3 hours ago
-
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
3 hours ago -
Football: French Ligue 1 results
3 hours ago -
Spain PM Sanchez says weighing resignation after wife's graft probe
4 hours ago -
Long-lost Klimt portrait auctioned off for 30 mn euros
4 hours ago -
TikTok to fight US ban law in courts
4 hours ago -
Anger among Ukrainians in Poland as Kyiv halts passport renewals
4 hours ago