Turkey appoints US law firm for returning to F-35 fighter jet Program
A contract filed with the US Department of Justice revealed that Turkey has chosen a Washington-based law office to make pressure for its readmission to the US F-35 fighter jet program after it was postponed because of its purchase of Russian air defenses.
It should indicate that Ankara demanded more than 100 stealth fighters and has been constructing parts for their production, however; it was retired from the program in 2019 after that it bought the Russian S-400 missile defense systems that Washington states that it threaten the F-35s.
Currently, Turkey has now appointed law society Arnold & Porter for strategic advice and outreach to US authorities, in a six-month contract worth $750,000 that started this month.
Moreover, AFP reported that Ankara has declared that its elimination from the program was unjust, and President Tayyip Erdogan stated that he wishes for positive developments under US President Joe Biden.
In fact, the contract was concluded with Ankara-based SSTEK Defense Industry Technologies, possessed by the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), which constitute Ankara’s main defense industry authority.
According to the contract, Arnold & Porter will advise on a strategy for the SSB and Turkish contractors to remain within the Joint Strike Fighter Program, taking into consideration and addressing the complex geopolitical and commercial factors at play.
Although Turkey’s withdraw from the program, and sanctions imposed on Turkey’s defense industry in December, the Pentagon stated that it would continue to depend on Turkish contractors to obtain key F-35 components.
Furthermore, Turkey’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, said that Turkey had already paid for some F-35 jets. He informed a NATO-related event on Thursday: Even a hangar fee was taken from Turkey for the jets it could not take delivery of.
On his part, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, talking after a NATO defense ministers’ meeting, related that he had brought to the clear attention of our allies that licensing restrictions, attempts for sanctions or even the threat of sanctions against Turkey only weaken the alliance.
