US Based Economy Magazine Bloomberg Businessweek published an article that underlines Turkey’s role in F35 Program. The article has “Lockheed’s F-35 Has a Turkey Problem” headline.
Magazine states US Congress’ decision to block the sale of F-35s to Turkey because of an agreement the Turks have to buy a Russian S-400 air defence system. Magazine states, “That’s creating problems. Turkey is a global leader in aerospace manufacturing, and 10 Turkish companies will make about $12 billion worth of parts for the F-35, including key components such as the centre fuselage and some landing gear. For certain items, like the cockpit display, Turkey is the only source in the world.”
Accompanied with an illustration, magazine sums Turkish companies’ role in F-35 and asks whether there is any risk to supplies. Quoting U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis’s letter to Congress, “If the Turkish supply chain was disrupted today, it would result in an aircraft production break, delaying delivery of 50-75 jets and would take approximately 18-24 months to re-source parts” Magazine reminds that Mattis must submit a report to Congress by mid-November on the potential impact of any change to Turkey’s participation.
Turkish Aerospace Industries (TUSAS)
Together with Northrop Grumman, TUSAS manufactures and assembles the centre fuselage, weapons bay doors, and air-to-ground pylons used to carry equipment
Ayesas
Is the sole supplier for two major F-35 components—the missile remote interface unit and the panoramic cockpit display
Kale Aerospace
Manufactures airframe structures and landing gear up lock assemblies
Fokker Elmo
Makes 40 percent of the electrical wiring interconnection system (EWIS) for the F135 engine
Alp Aviation
Manufactures airframe structures and assemblies, landing gear components, and more than 100 engine parts for the F135, including titanium integrated blade rotors
