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 by Ed Adamczyk Washington (UPI) Jun 10, 2019
Turkey's involvement in manufacturing the F-35 fighter plane will end if it insists on buying a Russian air defense system. A June 6 letter from Acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan outlines Turkey's elimination from the F-35 program. By early 2020, contracts with major Turkish defense contractors, including Turkish Aerospace Industries, Roketsan and Tusas Engine Industries, would end. The training of Turkish F-35 pilots at Luke AFB, Ariz., and of Turkish maintenance personnel at Eglin AFB, Fla., also would end, as would joint military exercises in Turkey. Use of the S-400 system could threaten and destabilize NATO, the U.S. Defense Department has said. Turkey is a NATO member. Elimination from the program would threaten "F-35 industrial opportunities for Turkish companies [which] are expected to reach $12 billion," F-35 builder Lockheed Martin said. The United States is also threatening to withhold sales of F-35 planes to the Turkish military. At issue is Turkey's plan to purchase and install the S-400 air defense system, made in Russia. "If Turkey procures the S-400, as we discussed during our call on May 28, 2019, our two countries must develop a plan to discontinue Turkey's participation in the F-35 program," Shanahan wrote in a letter addressed to Hulusi Akar, Turkey's defense minister. "While we seek to maintain our valued relationship, Turkey will not receive the F-35 if Turkey takes delivery of the S-400." The letter adds that additional penalties against Turkey could follow. Automatic sanctions, which Shanahan said has strong bipartisan commitment in Congress, could be imposed.
Under embargo Qatar takes delivery of first Rafale jets Doha (AFP) June 5, 2019 Five Rafale fighter jets arrived in Qatar on Wednesday, a diplomatic source in Doha told AFP, a symbolic delivery as Doha marked two years under a Saudi-led embargo. Qatar inked a number of major arms deals after Riyadh and its allies the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain announced a total economic boycott of Doha in June 2017. The alliance severed diplomatic, trade and economic ties over Doha's alleged support for Iran and Islamist movements - charges Qatar strenuously denies. "I con ... read more
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