Turkey Fears Being Shut Out Of Jsf

TURKEY FEARS BEING SHUT OUT OF JSF

ANKARA [MENL] — Turkey has quietly expressed concern that it could be shut out of the Joint Strike Fighter project because of delays in granting its companies access to U.S. technology.

Turkish officials and industry sources said the concern stems from years of delays in the licensing of technology transfers related to other purchases by Ankara of U.S. platforms. They said the U.S. companies might decide to avoid Turkish companies in subcontracting arrangements out of fear that the State Department will block or severely delay the transfer of technology required for JSF projects.

Turkey has joined the JSF program as a Level 3 partner. Under this arrangement, Turkey has contributed $175 million in cash and will be eligible to appoint a representative as program staff officer and participates in the command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence integrated product team. Ankara will not have a direct say on the requirements of the aircraft.

In July, the General Accounting Office reported concerns that foreign partners of the JSF might be hampered by delays in licenses for technology transfers. A GAO study said that more than 1,000 export authorization requests must be granted during the current phase of the JSF program.

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