Ellen Lord, United States Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment, announced on July 17 that Turkey would be removed from the Joint Strike Fighter Program by March 2020. Turkey’s removal comes after the country’s purchase of a Russian anti-aircraft defense system, the S-400.
The U.S. had argued for years that Turkey should not do business with Russian defense contractors, but after negotiations for Turkey to by the Patriot anti-aircraft defense system from the U.S. broke down, the S-400 was the best alternate option.
The Pentagon will have to reorder its supply chain to make up for the 900 different parts and components that are manufactured in Turkey. Under the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, U.S. President Trump has the authority to impose sanctions on Turkish individuals and entities for doing business with Russian defense contractors.
