Turkey and the US have
raised tension over Russian made S-400 air defence systems in which Turkey is removed
from the JSF programme. The deal, worth billions, is still working its way
through the Foreign Military Sales process, which is subject to approval by the
US State Department and the US Congress which can block deals.
"As a matter of
policy, the Department does not confirm or comment on proposed defence sales or
transfers until they have been formally notified to Congress," a
spokesperson for the State Department said to Reuters. At the same time, the
Turkish Embassy in Washington declined to comment.
Ankara's purchase of
the S-400s has also triggered US sanctions. In December 2020, Washington
blacklisted Turkey's Presidency of Defence Industries chief Ismail Demir and
three other employees. The US authorities stated that the CAATSA sanctions over
the S-400 acquisition would be wider and deeper if Turkey buys another batch.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said in a television interview in the US
that Turkey plans to buy more S-400s. He did not meet US President Joe Biden during his New York visit. He later met Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Turkey develops its indigenous
fighter aircraft with the TF-X programme. However, it still needs time to be in
the inventory as the aircraft has not even made its maiden flight yet.
On the other, the bitter
NATO ally and neighbour country, Greece, acquires F-35s and French-made Rafales
while upgrading its F-16 fleet.