Turkish Pilot Flies F-35 In US

A Turkish fighter pilot flew F-35 aircraft for the first time as part of the on-going training in the US, the Turkish General Staff was quoted as saying by Anadolu Agency on Tuesday.

Early July, the Pentagon said Turkish pilots and maintenance personnel were being trained on the F-35 fighter jet in the state of Arizona.

Turkey took delivery of its first F-35 fighter jet at a ceremony in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 21. The first F-35 aircraft delivered is also the first fifth-generation fighter jet to enter the Turkish Air Force Command inventory.

Turkey plans to get 100 F-35 fighter jets in upcoming years.

The country is expected to receive six F-35 jets by 2020. Four of these jets will be staying in the U.S. until 2020 and the two of them will be transferred to the integrated air base in Turkey's eastern province of Malatya.

Turkey will receive the remaining 24 jets from its first 30-jet order package by 2024.