Russia successfully delivered S-400 missiles to Türkiye
The S-400 complex components were transported by An-124 transport aircraft to a base near the capital Ankara, then moved to a secret location.
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| Transport vehicles of the S-400 complex at Murted base on July 12. Photo: Twitter. |
The Russian Ministry of Defense today released a video of the An-124 heavy transport aircraft carrying trucks and ammunition loading vehicles of the S-400 long-range air defense system to the Murted military base, on the outskirts of the Turkish capital Ankara. This is the first batch of goods delivered under the S-400 system purchase contract between Moscow and Ankara.
The Turkish military also posted images of the equipment leaving the An-124 and moving to a secret location. "The third Russian transport plane landed as planned. The transfer process will continue in the coming days," Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar announced yesterday.
Moscow said 120 missiles for the S-400 system would be delivered by sea, while Turkish officers training in Russia are set to return home next month.
US officials have not commented on Türkiye's delivery of the S-400 system.
Türkiye and Russia signed a $2.5 billion deal to buy S-400 missiles in December 2017. The US has repeatedly objected to the deal, arguing that Russia could send experts to Türkiye and gain access to 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.
US President Donald Trump had left open the possibility of exempting Türkiye from sanctions during a meeting with President Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan on June 29. However, US officials said the country still plans to impose sanctions if Türkiye is determined to pursue the S-400 contract.
