Turkey cannot have both F-35 and Russia’s S-400, Trump nominee says
US President Donald Trump’s nominee to become the next secretary of defense re-stated that Turkey cannot have the F-35 advanced stealth fighter jet and Russia's S-400 air defense system, which Moscow started delivering last week.
“The policy that I have communicated to my counterpart, if confirmed, [Turkey’s] defense minister is that you can either have the S-400 or you can have the F-35, you cannot have both,” said Army Secretary Mark Esper, testifying at his confirmation hearing on Tuesday before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
“Acquisition of the S-400 fundamentally undermines the capabilities of the F-35 and our ability to retain that over-match in the skies going forward.” [Reuters]
