Turkey says to produce S-500s with Russia after S-400 missile deal

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said Turkey and Russia would jointly produce S-500 defence systems after Ankara's controversial purchase of the S-400 missile defence system from Moscow.

Turkey's push to buy the S-400s has further strained already tense relations with the United States which has repeatedly warned Ankara of the risks including sanctions as a result of the purchase.

"There is absolutely no question of (Turkey) taking a step back from the S-400s purchase. That is a done deal," Erdogan said in Istanbul.

"There will be joint production of the S-500 after the S-400," Erdogan told an audience of young people asking questions.

Ties between NATO allies Turkey and the US have frayed over multiple issues including American support for a Syrian Kurdish militia viewed as terrorists by Ankara and the US failure to extradite a Muslim preacher blamed for the 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan.

Washington says the deal with Moscow is a threat to Western defence and in April suspended deliveries of the F-35 stealth fighter jet to Turkey in a bid to halt the purchase.

Turkish pilots are in the US receiving training on the F-35s, manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Turkey is expected to buy 100 of the jets in total.

Erdogan said Turkey conducted technical studies amid US concerns over the compatibility of the S-400s and the F-35s but found there were no issues.

He also insisted "sooner or later" Turkey would receive the F-35 jets.

Despite the threat of sanctions, Erdogan repeated that the S-400s were expected to be delivered in July, "but this could be brought forward", he added.

Erdogan expects F-35 jets 'sooner or later' despite Russian missiles purchase
Washington DC (SPX) May 20, 2019 - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Sunday he expects F-35 jets will be delivered "sooner or late"r to his nation despite a deal with Russia to purchase the S-400 surface-to-air missile system.

Turkey is among nine countries developing the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter but the United States has opposed shipment of the stealth jets if the nation goes ahead with the missile system purchase.

"Sooner or later, we will receive the delivery of the F-35s, their equipment, and S-400s, too, will come to our country," Erdogan said after a dinner attended by representatives of youth organizations at the historical Dolmabahçe Palace in Istanbul.

"There is absolutely no question of stepping back on the S-400 issue. It's a done deal."

Erdogan expects the air defense system will be delivered by the end of this year.

Turkey conducted technical studies and found there were no issues over the compatibility of the S-400s and the F-35s, Erdogan said.

"They [U.S.] are passing the ball around in the midfield now, showing some reluctance" Erdogan said at the dinner, noting the United States "not delivering them is not an option."

In 2017, Turkey decided to purchase the S-400 system after efforts to purchase air defense systems from the United States were not successful.

The United States has repeatedly warned Ankara won't receive the planes and sanctions could be implemented.

In April, the United States suspended the delivery of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey.

Turkish pilots are receiving training at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona on the F-35s, which are manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Turkey is expected to buy 100 jets.

The Defense Department is seeking new parts suppliers to replace those from eight Turkish companies, which are set to do $12 billion in work on the F-35 program over the life of the jet, according to USNI News.

"The U.S. continues to speak with Turkey on a routine basis," Ellen Lord, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, told reporters last week during an update on the department's acquisition reforms and major programs. "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."

Turkish companies make parts for the fuselage, landing gear and cockpit displays of the aircraft, according to Lockheed Martin. Some of them have been producing F-35 parts since 2004. For example, Fokker Elmo manufactures 40 percent of the F-35's electrical wiring and interconnection system.

Six NATO countries have received F-35s: the United States, Australia, Britain, Italy, Norway and the Netherlands. Two other nations that also participated in the aircraft's development -- Canada and Denmark -- are scheduled to receive the aircraft as well. Israel, Japan and South Korea also have signed foreign military sales contracts and received aircraft. Last May, Israel claimed to be the first country to use an F-35 in combat for cross-border strikes in the Middle East.

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