Senator James Lankford (R-OK), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a bill on Thursday to prevent the transfer of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft to Turkey, APA reports quoting RÄ°A Novosti.
The bill would also block Turkey’s role as a maintenance depot for the aircraft. A similar bill is expected to be presented on Friday at the House o Representatives.
The bill sites as reasons for this action, the unlawful imprisonment of U.S. citizens by Turkey as well as the efforts of the Turkish government to buy S-400 missiles from Russia. U
nder the US-led, multinational Joint Strike Fighter program, Turkey was expected to purchase more than 100 aircraft.