Turkey to seek alternatives if F-35s not acquired - defence minister

US Air Force

Turkey to seek alternatives if F-35s not acquired - defence minister | Ahval

Turkey would search for alternatives, if it could not acquire F-35 stealth fighter jets for some reason. 

The minister said Turkey needed fifth generation fighter jets for its national security. 

"All should be aware that Turkey will naturally have to look for alternatives if F-35s [jets] cannot be acquired for any reason," state-run Anadolu Agency quoted Akar as saying in an interview with Al Jazeera.

The United States halted the delivery of 100 F-35 jets to Turkey, after Ankara started receiving shipments of Russian S-400 missile systems over concerns that the presence of Russian batteries in Turkey could grant Moscow access to defence data gathered from the F-35s and other NATO systems.

Turkey dismisses such concerns saying that the S-400s will not be integrated into NATO systems and will not pose a threat to the alliance.

The Pentagon also suspended Turkey’s participation to the programme to build F-35 fighter jets. 

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