Dispute Over IP Leads Rolls-Royce To Curtail Efforts To Join TF-X Program

British aero-engine maker Rolls-Royce has scaled back its efforts to develop the engine for Turkey's indigenous fighter program, reports the Financial Times (U.K.).

Disputes over the sharing and ownership of intellectual property, as well as the involvement of the Qatari-Turkish company BMC, are the causes of the discord.

BMC's major shareholders include the Qatari Defense Ministry and Ethem Sancak, a businessman known to have links to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogen.

Disagreement over the issues emerged last year and the parties have been unable to come to a resolution since.

Senior U.K. officials, including Prime Minister Theresa May, had lobbied extensively for the British company to be chosen for the project.

According to Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East, the company had “satisfied a number of conditions” to permit Turkey to create an engine that was indigenously produced. “We’ve given what we believe is our best offer in terms of the conditions around that,” he said.

It is up to Ankara to decide if it wants to work with Rolls-Royce, East said, while acknowledging that defense decisions often take a long time.

A Turkish official said Ankara remained open to working with the British company if it is willing to understand the government's main concerns.

Turkey has reportedly been exploring other engine makers for the project, including General Electric.