The F-35 Lightning II production line at Lockheed Martin’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas. Lockheed Martin
CNBC: Lockheed Martin and Raytheon prepare big production changes to adjust to America’s dispute with Turkey over a Russian missile deal
* Multiple people familiar with the process explained to CNBC that Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are preparing to revise their production processes amid a contentious negotiation with Turkey.
* As it stands, Turkey faces removal from the F-35 program, forfeiture of 100 F-35 jets, cancellation of Patriot missile deal and imposition of U.S. sanctions as well as potential blowback from NATO.
* Turkey has helped finance Lockheed Martin’s F-35 program, America’s most expensive weapons system and the world’s most advanced fighter jet. Turkey also manufactures components for the planes.
WASHINGTON — American defense firms Lockheed Martin and Raytheon are preparing to make massive adjustments to their production processes as the U.S. tries to pressure Turkey not to follow through with a multibillion-dollar deal to buy a Russian missile system, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
If Turkey goes through with the Russian deal, Lockheed Martin would have to rework its supply chain on components for the F-35 fighter jet, while also making changes to its production schedule. Yet if Turkey abandons its deal with Russia, Raytheon would reorganize the Patriot missile defense system production schedule to guarantee that Turkey could receive the missile system within a faster time frame.
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WNU Editor: The U.S. has already started to transfer F-35 jets that are destined to Turkey to a U.S. base .... US transfers Turkey's F-35 jet to Arizona base (Hurriyet Daily News).
