The U.S. is set to deliver the first F-35 fighter jet to Turkey on June 21 despite opposition in Congress.
A Lockheed Martin spokesman told Defense News that there will be a rollout ceremony at its production facilities in Fort Worth next week.
“The F-35 program traditionally hosts a ceremony to recognize every U.S. and international customer’s first aircraft. The rollout ceremony for Turkey’s first F-35 aircraft is scheduled for June 21,” the spokesman said in a written statement.
“The aircraft will then ferry to Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where Turkish pilots will join the F-35A training pool.”
The U.S. Senate is due to vote on the annual defense policy bill, which could prevent Turkey from buying F-35 fighter jets.
The F-35s will replace the aging fleet of F-4 and F-16 aircraft. Last December, the Pentagon said that Italy and Turkey would provide the initial heavy maintenance of the F-35 fighter jets and their engines.
The single-pilot and single-engine, fifth-generation JSF/F-35 joint strike fighter stands out as a fighter jet that can perform various missions, such as air-ground assault, reconnaissance, tactics, and defense with low visibility.
The airplanes are being produced in three versions: conventional (horizontal) landing and departure, short take-off and vertical landing, and carrier based (F-35C/CV).
The modern F-35 fighter is being developed and built by U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin for the U.S., the U.K., Australia, Italy, Norway, Turkey, the Netherlands, Denmark and Canada in a project worth about $400 billion, making it the world's most expensive weapons program.
In terms of industrial participation, the Turkish defense industry plays an important role in the program as parts supplier for the F-35 program.
Ten Turkish firms, including ASELSAN, Kale Aviation, Microwave and Electronic Systems (MiKES), ROKETSAN, and Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), are involved in the production of parts and electronic systems, and the engine maintenance for the F-35s.
