Most of the talk on cutting the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program focuses on the US military’s plans for purchasing several variants of the aircraft. However, allied partners working alongside the US in the fighter’s development are getting antsy about all the talk. In particular, strategic ally Turkey, according to the Turkish Daily News, believes the rumored cancellation of the USAF conventional takeoff and landing version of the new fighter would endanger Turkey’s plan to buy up to four squadrons-worth of new fighters over the next 20 years. Turkey, along with other JSF development partners, was counting on the large American buy and some local manufacturing capability to help keep the price down.
USAF to Cut F-35 Buy in Future Years Defense Plan
May 14, 2021
The Air Force wants to scale back buys of the F-35 over the next five years, hoping to get sustainment costs down and to wait for the more capable Block 4 version, according to talking points prepared for Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. The reduced buy will…