19.06.2018, Ankara.
Turkey will find alternatives to F-35 fighter jets, said Binali Yildirim, the Turkish Prime Minister, on June 19, RIA Novosti reports.
The US Senate’s decision to end Turkey’s participation in the F-35 production program forces Ankara to seek a replacement for US fighters.
“This is an unfortunate development. But Turkey will not be left without an alternative. We regret such actions taken by the US Senate; they contradict the spirit of strategic partnership”, said the Turkish Prime Minister.
Turkey, along with other NATO countries, is investing into development and manufacturing of F-35, the fifth-generation of US jet fighters.
A total of 11 billion dollars were supposed to be invested. At the moment, Ankara has spent 800 million dollars in order to receive one hundred US-made F-35 jets.
An agreement to supply Turkey with S-400 Russian-made air defense missile systems was signed in December 2017 between Moscow and Ankara and caused the US Senate’s decision to stop supplying Turkey with fighter jets.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
