ANKARA, Nov 24 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey would seek alternatives, if it could not acquire the U.S. F-35 fighter jets, Turkish Defence Minister, Hulusi Akar, said.
“All should be aware that Turkey will have to look for alternatives, if the F-35’s cannot be acquired for any reason,” Akar said, during an interview.
The Russia-made S-400 missile defence systems, Turkey recently procured, would not be integrated into the NATO systems, within the Turkish defence system, and would instead be part of a “stand-alone system,” the minister stated.
“That’s what we have been saying since the beginning (of the dispute with the United States) … We are not going to integrate this with the NATO systems,” he said.
Akar emphasised, Turkey fulfilled its responsibilities as one of the partner countries in the F-35 programme, and the U.S. should do its part accordingly.
He recalled that Ankara previously tried to acquire a U.S.-made Patriot defence system, but that attempt was rejected by Washington, before Turkey decided to buy the S-400 system from Russia.
Turkey’s procurement of the Russian S-400 missile defence systems prompted the Trump administration to suspend Ankara’s participation in the F-35 fifth-generation joint strike fighter programme, in July.
Russia has expressed its readiness for a potential agreement with Turkey on the sale of the Su-35 or Su-57 aircraft.
