Pentagon Halting Turkey’s Participation In F-35 Program, Stopping Pilot Training By End Of July

摘要

The Pentagon is initiating steps to wind down Turkey’s participation in the F-35 program, as a result of Ankara’s plan to purchase a Russian missile defense system, with plans to stop training new pilots and halt the program by the end of July. Acting Defense Secretary Pat Shanahan sent a letter to the Turkish defense minister on Thursday detailing plans to remove Turkey from the program, while leaving the door open for future participation if the country forgoes buying the S-400 platform.