Turkey postpones F-35 order due to rising costs, technical flaws

Turkey postpones F-35 order due to rising costs, technical flaws

Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has delayed its first order of the Joint Strike

Fighter from the United States.

Turkey’s Defense Industry Undersecretariat has suspended plans to

purchase two F-35 fighter-jets from Lockheed Martin. The agency, known as

SSM, cited rising costs as well as technical flaws in the aircraft.

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is the costliest program in Pentagon procurement history.

“Due to the current state of the JSF and the rising cost it was decided

to postpone the order placed on Jan 5, 2012, for the two aircraft,” SSM

said.

The SSM statement on Jan. 11 marked the latest delay by Turkey and other NATO allies to order the F-35. The government of Prime Minister Recep Erdogan has assured the United States of plans to eventually acquire 100 JSF aircraft.

“Turkey will continue its activities in the JSF program, in which it is

a participating member, and projects to have 100 F-35A planes, as had been planned,” SSM said.

But SSM said Turkey, reflecting a Jan. 3 decision by the Defense

Industry Executive Committee, was not satisfied with the capabilities of the

F-35, meant to replace the air force’s fleet of F-4 and F-16A-B platforms.

The statement said the performance of the aircraft was “not yet at the

desired level.”

JSF, a $1 trillion program, has been delayed by cost overruns and

numerous technical flaws. Turkey, which invested some $250 million, has been

a Level 3 partner in JSF and engaged in some $5 billion in subcontracts.

“Furthermore the results of talks with the U.S. government and main

contractor Lockheed Martin in 2012 are being reconsidered,” SSM said.

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