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The United States warned Turkey against moving ahead with plans to buy a sophisticated Russian missile defence system that the Pentagon believes would threaten its advanced F-35 fighter aircraft.
The State Department made the remarks on a day when the head of US European Command spoke to politicians on Capitol Hill and said Turkey should reconsider its plan to buy the S-400 from Russia this year.
"We've clearly warned Turkey that its potential acquisition of the S-400 will result in a reassessment of Turkey's participation in the F-35 programme, and risk other potential future arms transfers to Turkey," said deputy spokesman Robert Palladino on Tuesday.
The US agreed to sell 100 of its latest fifth-generation F-35 fighters to Turkey and has so far delivered two of the aircraft. But Congress last year ordered a delay in future deliveries.
[...] The S-400 can track a large number of potential targets, including stealth targets such as the US F-35 fighter jet. Other advantages included its high mobility, meaning it can be set up, fired and moved within minutes.
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday March 06 2019, @11:02PM (1 child)
1) U.S. sells F-35s to Turkey
2) Turkey buys missile battery from Russia
3) U.S. pitches a fit
4) Turkey says "fuck off" and promptly gives one of their F-35s to Russia to take apart, while keeping their missile battery
5) U.S. sends F-35s over Turkey, they promptly get shot down
O NO THEY DI'INT
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Wednesday March 06 2019, @11:04PM
Or would the U.S. not be operating F-35s themselves? Instead substitute "sends F-22s over Turkey; F-22 pilots suffocate and crash; Turkey sends F-22 wreckage to Russia to be studied"
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"