Source (example): https://www.rt.com/news/455300-us-h...notifications&utm_campaign=push_notifications So ... the US is stopping the delivery of the F-35 to Turkey because the Turks want to buy the Russian S-400 air defense system. The reason given is that the Russians may get too much of an eye on the F-35, so they can adjust the S-400 to fight the F-35 as a simple "Turkey Shooting". Mmmh ... let's think and use the head: Point 1: First of all, I hate that bastard Erdogan and would not even sell him a rifle cartridge, so I'm certainly not against the US move, simply because it affects Turkey under Erdogan. The whole thing is not new, because that was already announced in the summer of 2018, but the Turks are officially stay and remain at the S-400 purchase = the US now deliver now no F-35. However, Saudi Arabia, among other things, expresses an interest in the F-35 and the US has so far had no no, but no contract with KSA. From there, I'm curious to see how the US behaves there, because even Saudi Arabia buys the S-400 system. Woe to it, if the US still sells the F-35 to KSA and KSA still buys the S-400 system ... then we have the one millionth example of American hypocrisy. Point 2: Even if the factual reasoning of the Pentagon sounds logical and comprehensible and is ... sorry ... it has a bland and evil aftertaste anyway! It is fair to say that the US is "just" upset that the Turks are buying the Russian S-400 system = competition instead of the patriot successor, MEADS, and thus wanting to force the Turks to buy the US weapon system. In short: State intervention in the free arms trade ... Because within NATO quite a lot of Russian device is still used! Point 3: If I take all the stupid and arrogant chatter in this forum and elsewhere about the S-400 ... which tell by consensus, the S-400 can not even hit an aircraft with the size of the "Star Wars Death Star" in the Sky ... then the US Pentagon punishes all those silly babble lies ... something I've said over and over again, about disgusting US arrogance and overconfidence against the weapons systems of others ... especially those from Russia! I find that very interesting...
i'm sure they can sell those somewhere else plenty of pet nations arround, even my own is decided on buyng i believe those despite the fact that we dont need em
Indeed. It is odd to have a NATO member whom we don't trust to have both our latest aircraft and Russia's latest anti-air missile system, but then I can't imagine any other NATO member buying modern Russian military equipment, either.
Probably just the dead opposite S-400 is likely specifically designed to shoot the F-35 down... clearly the US doesn't want Erdogan to have that capability... he might actually use it.
The problem is supposed to be that the Russians will be able to see how the S 400 works against the F 35 or something like that. But as Mandelus said, if Saudi Arabia buys the S 400 and Washington still sells them the F 35 the argument becomes null and void. American hypocrisy? So what else is new? The real problem is that the US cannot compete with Russia in arms, because theirs are as good or better, and a lot cheaper - thanks to the sanctions. It keeps knocking the Ruble down which works towards Russia's benefit.
Now the best part. Erdogan want to buy the American Patriot Missile Defense as well. I guess the S 400 is to protect against the US, and the Patriot to protect against Russia. You think I'm joking? With his ambitions, he's going to need them.
Yes. Turkey has gone from being a stable, modern, Western-style democracy to becoming more totalitarian. Brutal regimes like that tend to gravitate toward Russia and China.
The S-400 is better than the Patriot System - at least according to India which is why - despite some rather nasty threats from the US - they chose that system over the Patriot system. These claims about the performance of the S-400 are abject nonsense on steroids. In the war in Yugoslavia - Serbia took out an F-16 and hit two Stealth F-117A bombers using modified 1970's Russian surface to air missiles. The idea that the S-400 has not improved on that technology is beyond mindless - but hey ... par for the course from some posters. Turkey is probably glad to be able to get out of purchasing the F-35. Turkey produces some components for the F-35 so they were between a bit of a rock and a hard place. The F-35 is a Lemon .. big time. A joke of a plane .. described as a "Turkey" by the fellow that designed the F-16 and the A-10. Have we managed to get this lemon of a plane off the ground yet ? This plane was supposed to be ready for combat over 10 years ago. In Oct 2018 this lemon was grounded again due to problems. Turkey probably views the US blocking the F-35 shipments as a huge blessing.. and I am sure that Russia will happily fill the void.
No ... but he cuddles with everyone to get his benefit so far, as well rumbles like an Elephant in China Shop in next moment if does not get. Some are still using older stuff like the Mig-29 for example ... but in general, it is more unlikely that this happens. It is not something Anti-Russian as main reason so far ... but Eastern European NATO members are mostly Anti-Russian in mind = that they buy from Russia is very unlikely. Western European NATO members have their own weapons industries - mostly in close partnership and cooperations - or buy American weapons. Yep ... his nasty wet dream of "The Ottoman Empire will raise again and rule the ME totally" is well-known.
When Turkey was a military dictatorship, that didn't prevent the USA from cooperating with Turkey and giving them a NATO membership.
US suspends F-35 deliveries to Turkey over Russian S-400s purchase – Pentagon/ Count on government to inject politics into a business transaction. One a many reasons for government to stay away from business.
Well, this ain’t exactly a business transaction. Selling and F-35 is not the same like selling a container full of iPhones.