Russia completes delivery of second S-400 system to Türkiye
Moscow completed the delivery of the second S-400 system to Ankara today, which will become operational in early 2020.
"The process of transferring components of the second S-400 air defense system to Murted military airport started on August 27 and was completed today," the Turkish Defense Ministry announced, adding that it is continuing to train soldiers to operate the system and is expected to activate it in April 2020.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said earlier that the S-400 missile systems would be put into service despite repeated warnings from the US.
"They told us 'don't activate them and we can find a solution,' but we insist that Ankara is not buying these systems as display models," Cavusoglu said, adding that Türkiye is open to buying US Patriot air defense missiles.
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| S-400 complex equipment moved to Murted base on September 15. Photo:Turkish Ministry of Defense. |
Türkiye and Russia signed a deal to buy four S-400 systems worth $2.5 billion in December 2017. The US has repeatedly opposed the deal, arguing that Russia could send experts to Türkiye and access the NATO air defense network, as well as research the F-35 stealth fighter to gain secret combat information, eliminating the advantage of the world's most expensive fighter jet.
In late August, the US withdrew its proposal to sell Patriot air defense systems worth a total of $3.5 billion to Türkiye, after removing the country from the F-35 super fighter program and refusing to hand over 105 F-35As according to the signed agreement.
In response, Türkiye warned that it would buy more S-400 missiles, leaving open the possibility of buying Su-57 stealth fighters and Su-35S and MiG-35 multi-role fighters to replace the F-35A.
US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on September 9 that Washington is considering sanctions against Ankara over the S-400 contract, but did not disclose the targets that could be targeted in this sanction.
