Turkey has not given up on acquiring F-35 fighter jets and is discussing with its interlocutors its intention to return to the project from which it was excluded due to the purchase of Russian air defense systems. This was stated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, quoted by the Turkish private television CNN-Turk, BTA reported.
Erdogan said this to reporters on his way back from the NATO summit in The Hague, where he met with US President Donald Trump.
The Turkish leader stressed that Turkey's air defense system is not limited to the S-400 (the Russian air defense systems because of which Turkey was excluded from the F-35 project), but that a multi-layered set of systems needs to be created.
"We are building a system of systems, in other words, our "Steel Dome", he said, highlighting the strengthening of Turkey's own defense industry capabilities in recent years.
"We have not given up on the F-35. We are discussing our intention to return to the project with our interlocutors. "The F-35 program is not only a technical but also a political process. Turkey was unfairly excluded from the program. We have always criticized this step, which is incompatible with the spirit of the alliance," the Turkish president said, adding that he had discussed the issue with US President Donald Trump and talks had begun at a technical level. "I hope we will make progress," Erdogan added.