Bayraktar says US permission is needed to use the F-35

Ankara, January 29 – Selcuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the leading Turkish drone manufacturer, said that buyers of American F-35 fighters cannot use them on their own, without permission from Washington.

The United States previously excluded Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program as punishment for its purchase of Russian S-400 air defense systems. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan later announced an American proposal to purchase another fighter, but not the fifth, but the fourth generation – the F-16. The deal must be negotiated in Congress, where it has strong opponents.

“When it comes to defence, the sovereignty of states is only possible when they develop their own technologies. Look at the countries that buy the F-35s and see what problems they have. They say they can’t use them on their own without permits from the US. The most advanced solution you buy from abroad Much worse than even the lowest technology you create internally. High technology comes with shackles. I think the best solution is to continue on this independent path,” Bayraktar Aydınlık newspaper’s words lead.

Bayraktar added that the final decision regarding the sale of products is made at the official level.

Earlier, it was reported that Baykar signed contracts with 18 countries last year, exporting $1.18 billion.

“The state decides. We can say we won’t sell. But the state decides whether we sell or not. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Defense Industry…they decide…we don’t make the final decision,” he added.