One of the four co-authors of the bill, Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen claimed that "the prospect of Russia having access to U.S. aircraft and technology in a NATO country, Turkey, is a serious national and global security risk."

This comes shortly after Reuters reported citing anonymous sources that the US is mulling not only denying the delivery of F-35s to Ankara amid tensions over Russia's S-400 deal with Ankara, but also cutting Ankara out of the jet's supply chain.

At present, Turkish factories are producing around 800 parts for the fifth-generation jet — with some of them being made only by Turkey. Despite this fact, the US believes that Turkey can be replaced by companies located in other countries, Sputnik reported.

"Turkey is not too big to fail", one of the sources said.

Finding substitutes for the Turkey's production of parts for the F-35will take time and slow down the delivery of the aircraft "for a three-month period", the source added. Neither the Pentagon, nor Lockheed Martin, which assembles the jets, has issued any official comments on the report.

Earlier, Katie Wheelbarger, the acting assistant secretary of defence for international security affairs, told Reuters that Washington had begun preparations to freeze shipments that were supposed to precede the F-35 deliveries to Turkey in a bid to "send signals" to Ankara. Wheelbarger also hinted that the US might find an alternative to Turkey's "engine depot", allegedly referring to an F-35 engine overhaul depot in Eskisehir.

Turkey has slammed the US pressure and repeatedly reiterated its intention to stick to the S-400 agreement and demanded the timely delivery of F-35 jets from Washington, noting that it has both invested in their development and paid for their acquisition.

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