U.S. Air Force to buy Turkish F-35s
Turkey had intended to order 100 fighters and had paid for at least 14 aircraft

F-35A, piloted by Maj. Charles “Flak” Trickey, flies the first external GBU-31, 2,000 pound Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) in a loads/flutter test flight at Edwards AFB, Calif., Sept. 27, 2016 | Photo: Lockheed Martin/Darin Russell

The U.S. defense department announced on Monday that the U.S. Air Force would be acquiring the F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters that were originally intended for Turkey.

In a contract announcement published on Monday, the Pentagon said, “Lockheed Martin Corp., Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, is awarded an $861,731,778 modification (P00040) to previously-awarded fixed-price incentive (firm target), firm-fixed-price contract N00019-17-C-0001. This modification exercises options to procure eight Lot 14 F-35A Lightning II repositioned aircraft as a result of the Republic of Turkey’s removal from the F-35 program, and six Lot 14 F-35A aircraft for the Air Force.”

Turkey had intended to order 100 F-35A fighters and had placed orders for at least 14 aircraft. Eight of the F-35A fighters intended for Turkey will now be acquired by the USAF in an order that also includes six additional F-35A aircraft, for an order worth USD 861.73 million.

The eight aircraft intended for Turkey will be brought in line with USAF configuration requirements.

The announcement said, “Additionally, this modification establishes undefinitized line items that provides recurring engineering in support of the modification of the eight Lot 14 F-35A Lightning II repositioned aircraft to a full operationally capable F-35A Air Force configuration.”

Members of the U.S. Congress had recently criticised continued supplies of parts from Turkey for the F-35, even after the removal of the NATO member from the program, due to its insistence on acquiring the Russian S-400 Triumf air defence system.

Turkish companies were contracted to supply over 900 parts for the fighter as part of a global supply chain, and as such, will continue as suppliers for aircraft that will only eventually be delivered in 2022.

The U.S. Pentagon took a decision to honour existing contracts and accept parts already on order after the removal of Turkey as member country of the F-35 program a year back.