Turkish defense contractor KaleKalip will start manufacturing F135 engines of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, being built by the United Technologies Corporation (UTC), Turkish Foreign Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan stated.

KaleKalip and UTC will set up a joint venture, in which 51% will be owned by KaleKalip, Turkish Anadolu agency reports.

Caglayan stressed the deal will be signed next week. According to him, in the initial phase, the Turkish company will undertake the production of 90 % of F135 engines for the F-35 aircraft. In time, it will manufacture the entire engine.