Turkey was kicked out of the F-35 program in July 2019 after its purchase of the Russian S400 system.

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with some companies continuing to supply F-35 parts to Lockheed Martin until 2022 because of exist- ing contract commitments. Gonul Tol, director of the Turkey program at the Washington-based Middle East Institute, said the US position on the S-400 was clear and that bringing Turkey back into the F-35 fold would be problematic.

“The National Defense Authori- zation Act allows the US president to lift the sanctions imposed on Tur- key for its purchase of the S-400 if Turkey removes the system from its territory,” she told Arab News. “Anything short of that will be met with skepticism in Washing- ton. Lockheed Martin has found other countries to replace Turkey in the supply chain.

If somehow Washington decides to reintroduce Turkey into the program, it will probably be treated as a new start.”

It has now hired law firm Arnold & Porter for “strategic advice and outreach” to US authorities, in a six- month contract worth $750,000 which started this month. Ankara has said its removal from the program was unjust, and President Tayyip Erdogan has said he hopes for positive developments under US President Joe Biden.

The contract was signed with Ankara- based SSTEK Defence Industry Technologies, owned by the Turkish Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), Ankara’s main defense industry authority.

Arnold & Porter will “advise on a strategy for the SSB and Turkish contractors to remain within the Joint Strike Fighter Program, taking into consideration and addressing the complex geopolitical and commercial factors at play,” the contract said.