The Turkish defence industry has hired a former Lockheed Martin executive to lobby on the F-35. According to an exclusive report from foreignlobby.com, former Lockheed Martin regional president for Europe, Stephen Williams, has registered his Alexandria-based firm Pentagon Strategies under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).
William informed the US Department of Justice that the firm is working for Ankara-based SSTEK Savunma Sanayi Teknolojileri A.Ş. (Defence Industry Technologies) and the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB).
Williams worked on F-35 projects at Lockheed Martin. He left the company in 2016 to become CEO of the North American subsidiary of Danish defence and aerospace company Terma. The company also provide parts for the F-35 aircraft.
The Donald Trump administration announced in July 2019 that it had removed Turkey from the F-35 program over the country’s purchase of Russian S-400 air missile defence systems. Turkish defence officials told turdef.com that the purpose of Arnold & Porter’s engagement was to ensure that Turkey’s rights are protected after it paid for the delivery of four F-35 aircraft that remain in the US. SSB has not provided information regarding Stephen Williams’ registration.
