Washington notifies Ankara of Turkey’s removal from F-35 fighter jet program

The United States has officially notified Turkey that it has been removed from the F-35 fighter jet program, state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Wednesday, citing a Pentagon official. Washington removed Turkey from the F-35 Lightning II jet program in 2019 after Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 air missile systems, which it maintains poses a security threat to U.S. and NATO systems. But Turkish contractors continue to manufacture parts for the fifth generation jet, despite the country’s removal from the program and the implementation of U.S. sanctions on the Turkish Defense Industries Presidency (SSB) in December. Washington has signed a new agreement for the…