BICOM

Turkey has been removed from the US’ F-35 Joint Strike Fighter programme after it took delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defence system last week.

In a statement yesterday the White House said: “Turkey’s decision to purchase Russian S-400 air defence systems renders its continued involvement with the F-35 impossible. The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities. Turkey has been a longstanding and trusted partner and NATO ally for over 65 years, but accepting the S-400 undermines the commitments all NATO allies made to each other to move away from Russian systems.”

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said: “We invite the US to return from this mistake which would open irreparable wounds in strategic relations.”

The US under-secretary of defence, Ellen Lord, and deputy under-secretary of defence, David Trachtenberg, later gave a briefing in the Pentagon. Lord said: “Turkey cannot field a Russian intelligence collection platform in proximity to where the F-35 programme makes repairs, and houses the F-35. Much of the F-35′s strength lies in its stealth capabilities, so the ability to detect those capabilities would jeopardise the long-term security of the F-35 programme.”

Lord said the US intends to “work forward at this point to unwind the relationship,” referring to Turkey’s removal from the programme as a “suspension,” thus implying Turkey could be allowed back in if it returns the S-400s to Russia. Trachtenberg emphasised the US hope that the situation will not impact the broader NATO alliance, including Turkey’s participation in upcoming NATO exercises in Georgia, Germany and Ukraine.

Turkey’s removal from the programme will result in the termination of contracts with major Turkish defence contractors such as Turkish Aerospace Industries, Roketsan and Tusas Engine Industries. Lockheed Martin said in a statement: “Over the last several months we’ve been working to establish alternative sources of supply in the United States to quickly accommodate Turkey’s current contributions to the programme.” All Turkish military personnel involved in the F-35 programme in the US have been told they must leave the country by the end of the month.