Turkey is planning to purchase ۱۰۰ multi-purpose F-۳۵ jet fighters worth $۱۶ billion, Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz has said. The first two of the military aircraft will be delivered by ۲۰۱۵, he said.
The decision to order two F-۳۵s was made last month. The multi-purpose F-۳۵ fighter jets are being produced by the US-based arms producer Lockheed Martin. Turkey became a member of the international F-۳۵ consortium in ۱۹۹۹. Other partners of the consortium include Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Norway and Denmark.
The statement indicates that Turkey is insisting on proceeding with its plan to purchase ۱۰۰ F-۳۵s even as many other partner countries, including the United States, have backtracked on their purchase plans due to delays and incremental costs.
The Pentagon postponed the purchase of ۱۳۹ F-۳۵ fighter jets for five years, while Britain said the decision regarding the number of F-۳۵s that the country would buy would be delayed until ۲۰۱۵. Italy last week said its F-۳۵ orders would be scaled down by ۳۰ percent. The U.S. government plans to manufacture ۲,۴۴۳ F-۳۵ fighter jets, according to a statement made to Turkey in ۲۰۱۲, Yilmaz said. “Purchase orders in the upcoming years regarding the [F-۳۵ military aircraft] will be subsequently assessed depending upon the negotiations.”
Turkey has spent $۳۱۵ million so far on three phases of the development of the F-۳۵ fighter jets that the country is producing as part of the partnership, Yilmaz said. Noting the incremental costs of the three phases, he said Turkey’s contract regarding its partnership in the consortium did not cover those costs. Aircraft supply costs would become clear after the aircraft order deal is signed, he said.