Turkey will get two more F-35 joint strike fighters in March 2019, the program’s director Vice Adm. Mat Winter said Monday, despite pressure from Congress to rethink the deal.

Why it matters: The news is a sign that the US-Turkish military relationship remains intact despite rapidly deteriorating diplomatic ties. The Donald Trump administration has sanctioned top officials over the jailing of US pastor Andrew Brunson and slapped new tariffs on Ankara in August. But the Pentagon insists that Turkey remains set to acquire 100 of the fifth-generation stealth fighters.

“I don’t see any indication at this time of any change to the delivery of their 100 jets,” Winter said.

Former Defense Department officials told Al-Monitor that the production line for Turkish jets won’t stop unless the White House orders it to shut down. “What you’re seeing is the program continuing on track the way it was designed,” said David Deptula, a retired three-star Air Force general. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has also urged Congress not to remove Turkey from the F-35 program, saying it would cause delays to the entire program.