American magazine evaluates Turkey's F-35 fighter jet program: 'They will never get them'

The National Interest, a magazine belonging to the think tank founded in 1994 by former US President Richard Nixon under the name Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom, addressed Turkey's F-35 fighter jet journey in its new issue. In the article, published as a news analysis, it was stated that Turkey has no chance of rejoining the F-35 program, particularly due to its adoption of Russia's S-400 air defense system. The notable headlines from the report are as follows:

Reports continue to emerge that Turkey, which was removed from the program for adopting the Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense system, is exploring various options to return to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. Washington and NATO leaders have warned that the two systems are incompatible and would put the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II at risk.

Earlier this month, calls came from a former Turkish minister for the S-400s to be sold to India or Pakistan, and it had previously been suggested that Ankara provide these systems to Ukraine.

'S-400S WILL NOT BE ACTIVATED'

It appears that Turkey intends to keep its air defense systems and literally keep them in storage! The S-400s will remain in the NATO member's arsenal but will not be activated. Lawmakers in Ankara have proposed, “Let us pack them up, and you [the US] inspect them.”

The United States has dealt with a similar issue in the past; specifically, when Pakistan accepted the F-16 Fighting Falcon, Washington reached an agreement with Islamabad to inspect how the Pakistan Air Force used these aircraft.

“When the US approved the sale of advanced F-16s to Pakistan and the refurbishment of older models, it also insisted on an unprecedented level of oversight for the program. To protect the technology it exported, Washington required Islamabad to agree to the deployment of a US technical security team at the Shahbaz and Mushaf air bases, where the advanced F-16s would be stationed, and to pay for it.” War on the Rocks included these statements in its 2020 analysis on how Turkey could re-enter the F-35 program.

'5G NETWORK, A SERIOUS OBSTACLE FOR F-35'

Ankara could be subjected to a similar agreement, but as Bloomberg reported in February, Turkey has shown that it prefers to keep its S-400s rather than return to the F-35s, partly because it is trying to develop its own fifth-generation stealth fighter jet.

The Russian-made S-400 Triumf is only one source of concern for the US. The fact that Turkey is still building a Chinese-made 5G network is seen as a serious obstacle for the F-35. This is because the US administration points out that F-35 software could be stolen through espionage.

While it may seem that Turkey will continue to find a way to return to the F-35 program, this will almost certainly not happen. Ankara appears determined to keep the S-400 Triumf, and deactivating the system will not be enough to satisfy Washington or NATO.

'VERY LITTLE REASON TO GIVE TURKEY F-35S'

Even if Ankara were to consider this, Russia might not allow Turkey to sell the S-400. Moscow has nothing to gain from such a deal, and the Kremlin may be enjoying the cracks caused by Turkey's adoption of the air defense system.

When you add to this the 5G network, Turkey's shaky relationship with its regional rival (and NATO member) Greece, and finally Ankara's ties with Moscow, there is very little reason to believe that Turkish pilots will be in the cockpit of an F-35.

News Source: 12punto