Turkish Ambassador to the United States Serdar Kilic said that US F-35 fighter jets will not be in the coverage area of Russian S-400 air defence systems deployed to Turkey.

“The S-400s and F-35s are going to be located in two distinct areas in Turkey, and F-35s are not going to be in the coverage area of S-400s,” Kilic said at the National Press Club on Wednesday.

Previously, Turkish undersecretary for defence industries said that Turkey is continuing to build installation and maintenance facilities to service F-35 fighter jets, being jointly developed with the United States, despite US threats to cut Ankara off for plans to buy Russian defence systems.

Earlier this week, two sources, who are familiar with Turkey’s role in the F-35 program and who spoke on condition of anonymity with Reuters, said that the United States was reportedly considering suspending training for Turkish pilots on advanced F-35 fighter jets.

Source: Sputnik