Russia 'ready' to deliver Su-35s fighter jets to Turkey

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - In the wake of the U.S. cutting Turkey out of the F-35 program, Russia is ready to deliver Su-35 fighter jets to Turkey, the head of Russian arms giant Rostec said on Thursday.

"If our Turkish colleagues show a willingness, we are ready to work on supplying Su-35s," Sergey Chemezov told reporters in Moscow.

On Wednesday, Washington announced it was removing Turkey from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, following through on threats to do so over Ankara's purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-air system.

Following protracted efforts to purchase an air defense system from the U.S. with no success, Ankara signed a contract in 2017 to purchase the S-400s from Russia.

U.S. officials urged Turkey to buy U.S. Patriot missiles, arguing the Russian system would be incompatible with NATO systems and expose the F-35s to possible Russian subterfuge.

Turkey, however, emphasized the S-400 would not be integrated into NATO systems and would not pose a threat to the alliance.

Deliveries of the S-400s began last week and are set to continue through April 2020.