ANAKARA – Turkey will receive its first two F-35 fighter jets on Thursday,despite earlier attempts by the US Senate to block the sales of themilitary equipment, the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag hassaid, Al Jazeera has reported.

“Necessary contacts have been made with the US, and delivery of the F-35jets will be on Thursday,” Bozdag said, according to Anadolu news agency.

Earlier this week, the sale of the two jets became uncertainlink>whenbipartisan efforts by the Senate and the House of Representatives weretaken to potentially stop the transfer to Turkey.

US Congress called for the haltlink>ofthe sales following the demand of a report by the Department of Defense onworsening US-Turkey relations.

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After the bill was introduced by US Senators, Turkish Prime Minister BinaliYildirim criticised the US decision, calling it “an unfortunatedevelopment”.

There, pilots will receive the necessary training to operate the planes,after which the F-35s will be moved to Turkey.Turkey will receive thefighter jets during a ceremony taking place in Fort Texas.

In 2014, Ankara placed a buy order of about 100 of the stealth jets,eventually looking to replace its current F-4 and F-16 fleet.

However, various legislators have cited a number of concerns with Turkey,including its plans to buy advanced Russianlink> air defence systems,warming ties to Moscow and the arrest of US citizens and consulate staff.

The Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles are incompatible with NATOlink> systems and thepurchase has alarmed various member countries, which warned Turkey ofunspecified consequences.

Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on June 4 emphasised that ifWashington decides not to sell F35s to Turkey, Ankara will look further toother countries or produce its own.

According to the F35 project agreement, the first two F35s must be handedover to Turkey in the US by June 21 for training and testing purposes.