Turkey is staring down a June deadline to cancel its purchase of a Russian missile system, according to a new report.
If it receives its purchase of the S-400 next month, the country will be ousted from Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program and will not receive 100 of the fighter jets it has ordered, and will also face U.S.-imposed sanctions, CNBC reports.
Instead, the U.S. has proposed that Turkey purchase Raytheon’s U.S.-made Patriot missile defense system so it can remain in the F-35 program.
It’s unlikely there’s an opportunity for an extension past the first week of June. Sources at the State Department said the offer is final when asked if the deadline could be pushed back.
“NATO countries need to procure military equipment that is interoperable with NATO systems,” a State Department official told CNBC. “A Russian system would not meet that standard.”
“We underscore that Turkey will face very real and negative consequences if it completes its S-400 delivery,” the official said.
Turkey, along with other NATO allies, is a potential buyer and partner in producing the F-35 aircraft. But Turkey’s determination to use the Russian anti-aircraft missile system has stoked concern among U.S. and other NATO allies who use the F-35 aircraft that the S-400 missile system’s radar could learn to detect the F-35, putting the aircraft in danger of Russian systems.
Turkey makes some of the parts for the F-35. Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, confirmed this month the U.S. was searching for alternative sources to supply parts currently made by Turkey.
“The U.S. continues to speak with Turkey on a routine basis. We have been very clear that the F-35 and the S-400 are incompatible. We have had Turkey as a NATO ally for many years, they’re also a very good supplier on the F-35 program. Those partners in the F-35 program are awarded supply chain contracts on the basis of value,” Lord told reporters, according to USNI News.
“We have for some time now been working to look at alternate sources of supply for the F-35 supply chain that is inside Turkey right now; that being said, we continue to work with Turkey and hope that they will use a NATO-compliant system for their air defense system,” she said.
