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How U.S. F-35 Technology Would Be Compromised If Turkey Had the Russian S-400 Anti-Aircraft System
(Air Force Times) If Turkey acquired Russia's S-400 alongside the F-35, the technology that makes that aircraft lethal could potentially be compromised and end up in the hands of the Russians. NATO states use a tactical data link that allows military aircraft, ships, and ground troops to share tactical pictures in near-real time. This is called Link 16. NATO aircraft also use Identification Friend or Foe systems, known as IFF, to identify friendly aircraft in the sky. An IFF and Link 16 interrogator would have to be integrated into the S-400 system to allow the Turkish F-35 to fly within its range. This opens up all Link 16 and IFF tactical data link equipment to be compromised. The S-400s are highly networked and could potentially broadcast sensitive data back to Russia.