Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan appealed to the United States to fulfill their obligations under previous agreements for the supply of the latest stealth aircraft of the fifth generation F-35.
And an interview with the Turkish Anadolu edition, Erdogan said, Turkey and the US are strategic partners, and partners are not forced to look for other ways of acquisition of modern aircraft. He also reminded, that the issue of supply of F-35 was discussed by him personally during a meeting with US President, as well as the United States and Turkey in various commissions.
Recall, that in the US threatens Turkey not to put recent batch of new F-35 because of the signed agreement with Russia for the supply of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems S-400 “triumph”.
Earlier, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, that if Washington still decide not to supply the Turkish fighter, Ankara is likely to turn to Russia, so that in the long run to buy new Russian fighter Su-57.
It should be noted, Turkey from the beginning was among the nine major participants in the development of the program F35. In accordance with the contract, Ankara should get 120 the latest fighter-bomber.
At the same time, Turkey produces one of the most important parts F35 design and has committed itself to the maintenance and installation of engines F35. All this reduces the likelihood, that the US can exclude Ankara from the program.
If Washington decides to continue the program without Ankara, the, according to some estimates, load the program partners will increase by more than 12 billions of dollars. And this despite the fact, that the implementation of the program and so cause great controversy in the US.
