Turkey must abandon the Russian anti-aircraft missile system (SAM) S-400 in order to receive American F-35 fighters. This was announced on social network X by the US Ambassador to Turkey, Thomas Barrak.
According to him, the States are currently continuing negotiations with Ankara on joining the F-35 program.
As established by US law, Turkey must no longer operate or own the S-400 system in order to return to the F-35 program.
Turkish authorities purchased four divisions of air defense systems, the contract value was estimated at $2.5 billion.
In 2019, Rosoboronexport announced the fulfillment of obligations for the supply of SAM systems. Later, Washington excluded Turkey from the F-35 program, demanding that it abandon the S-400.