Intel: Pentagon to accept Turkey-made F-35 parts through 2022

The row over the S-400 and the F-35 came amid the lowest point in Turkey-US relations in decades. The United States has said the S-400’s radar system will be able to gather data on the F-35’s capabilities, providing the Kremlin with valuable intelligence on the fifth-generation fighter.

Turkey originally ordered 100 F-35A’s, placing it among the Joint Strike Fighter’s biggest buyers along with other US allies Australia, Japan and the United Kingdom. Turkey unveiled its first F-35 delivery in 2018, but the United States said other completed aircraft would not be delivered.

What’s Next:  The S-400 dispute remains at an impasse for now, but there are signs of potential paths forward. The Turkish government said in April it had temporarily postponed activation of the missile defense system, citing the coronavirus pandemic. US Senator John Thune (R-SD) has proposed an amendment to the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that (NDAA) would allow the United States to purchase Turkey’s S-400. If the proposal makes it into the NDAA, it could provide both sides an off-ramp from the dispute.

Know More:  Diego Cupolo looks at whether US threats to sanction Turkey if it activates the S-400 played into Ankara’s decision to postpone the move, and Amberin Zaman shows how Ankara’s shipment of COVID-19 protective equipment to the United States was a small step toward recovering Turkey’s reputation in Washington.