Trump Blocks Fighter Jet Transfer Amid Deepening U.S.-Turkey Rift
This has the potential to put a major "kink" into F-35 production, Turkey has been a valuable and steadfast member of NATO, and F-35 partner,,, they, as well as Northrup manufacture the center fuselage, as well as other major assemblies. So this a bad, bad, bad, on every level.... President Erdogan has been playing "hardball" from the beginning, taking Turkey further and further out of the US orbit. That was allowed to slide under President's Bush and Obama, I mean honestly, its put us in a very difficult position.
For the record John, my Dad spent some time in Turkey sleeping in tents when he was still flying the C-119, 60+ years ago, Turkey has been a long time US friend..
Sixty plus years ago they were a friend and the cold war was still underway and Turkey's geographic position indeed made it an important ally but things have changed (and still are). The cold war ended although this might change yet again but Turkey's political situation has been sliding for years now. Turkey would not have been invited to the JSF party had Erdogan been in charge at the start. Selling state-of-the-art military kit in this region will bite you in the a$$ sooner or later (think F-14 Tomcats in the 1970s). Sell all the 4th gen fighters you want but F-35s to Turkey , Saudi Arabia, and most of the Gulf States, forget it. That's just another Tomcat repeat waiting to happen.
I do not know what percentage of F-35 components Turkey is responsible for but I don't think it would be much more than Canada's. LM used to make gentle threats about how Canada's workshare for the F-35 could be lost if Canada didn't proceed with a purchase. This hasn't happened likely because Boeing shot themselves in the foot and the F-35 is back on the tender list for our fighter replacement program. Perhaps your idea the supply chain can't easily be switched is the real reason, I don't know. Frankly, I doubt it for the simple reason this program is so important to the US military that there must be a backup plan for just such contingencies.
Yes the program is in a good place now and it will stay that way regardless of what develops with Turkey. The economic power and technology of non-partners Japan and S. Korea dwarfs Turkey and Singapore may become a customer as well. Meanwhile if Erogan continues his low interest rate policies the lira isn't going to buy many F-35s anyway
And justely with GBU-49 Block 3F* a true Wild Weasel this boy
he have for soon and yet tested especialy able vs TELs and the more dangerous SAMs S-300s the 2 last variants and S-400 150 - 400 km and they can deal with 6 - 72 targets simult engaged !
Maybe its time to rename it the E/A/R/F/A-35, the naysayers seemed to have become increasingly quieter these days.
They are in consultations with each other trying to decide which pending program they should whine about, the B-21 or the 6 th Gen fighter now that the F-35 has proven to be a success.
For gawds sake John, don't encourage them.They are in consultations with each other trying to decide which pending program they should whine about, the B-21 or the 6 th Gen fighter now that the F-35 has proven to be a success.
