Following the necessary approval from the US Government, the LoI will lay the long-term foundation of collaboration between the SSM and P&W. The signing ceremony was attended by Deputy Minister of National Defence Hasan Kemal Yardımcı, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Prof. Ismail Demir and Carrol “Howie” Chandler, Vice President for Military Business Development and International Programmes for P&W. 

In his remarks at the signing ceremony Chandler said: “With this LoI a national-level final assembly and check-out and maintenance and repair facilities in Turkey within the framework of the 5th generation fighter aircraft within the F-35 JSF Programme, will, in my view, bring very beneficial results for both parties. A decade ago no parts were manufactured for the Pratt & Whitney engines produced in Turkey. At the point we have arrived today, the F-135 engine parts can now be manufactured in Turkey. Alp Aviation is the biggest evidence of this; in addition, Kale Mould Machinery and Moulding will be one of the defence industry companies that will produce parts for our engines.”