29.06.2026 18:30
Before US President Trump's arrival in Ankara for the NATO summit, Washington was expected to approve the sale of jet engines to Turkey and the F-35, when a striking development occurred. The US Department of War awarded Vertex Aerospace a contract with a ceiling of $500 million for logistics support of the C-12 aircraft fleet. The contract, lasting until June 2031, will provide personnel, cargo, medical evacuation, and test support services. The operational network includes numerous countries, among them Turkey.
The U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon) has awarded Vertex Aerospace LLC a contract with a ceiling of $500 million for logistics support of the C-12 aircraft fleet; the contract, which will run through June 2031, will be executed across a global operational network, including Ankara as well as numerous other countries. Accordingly, personnel, cargo, medical evacuation, and test support services will be provided for military institutions.
U.S. MILITARY CONTRACT WORTH $500 MILLION
According to the latest contract list published by the Pentagon, the highest-budget award in the announced package is the logistics support service for the C-12 aircraft fleet given to Vertex Aerospace LLC. Under the contract, which has a ceiling of $500 million and is planned to last until June 2031, personnel, cargo, and medical evacuation missions, as well as test support services for various military institutions, will be provided.
TURKEY IS AMONG THE COUNTRIES
This massive contract, which also covers the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, includes Turkey, along with 7 U.S. states and Argentina, Botswana, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Ghana, Honduras, Hungary, Japan, Kenya, Morocco, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, and Norway in its operational network.
Accordingly, the U.S. Air Force Materiel Command, Defense Intelligence Agency, Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and Pacific Air Forces will be provided with time-sensitive personnel, cargo, and medical evacuation transportation, as well as test support. The work under this contract will be carried out at military bases and centers in these countries, including Turkey.
In the competitive bidding process, where three companies submitted proposals, initial allocations have been made from fiscal year 2026 budgets and FMS funds. The contract process is managed by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, located at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma.
MASSIVE BUDGET FOR F-35 PROGRAM AND OTHER DEFENSE PROJECTS
Under the announced package, the existing contract with Lockheed Martin Aeronautics for the F-35 program within the Navy has been revised, and an additional $74.2 million contract was awarded to the company. This budget aims to integrate weapon systems specific to the UK and Italy into F-35A and F-35B fighter jets, enhance F-35 Block 4 capabilities, and develop a tactical data recording system common to all F-35 variants. These efforts are expected to be completed by December 2032.