Turkey has received the first batch of Russian S-400 air defence missiles, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Thursday. Earlier, China received the first batch of Russian S-400 Triumf missile systems via sea.
“The deliveries of the first batch of S-400 batteries to Murted Air Base in Ankara have been completed today. A total of 30 flights were performed to deliver the first batch. The second batch is also expected to be delivered to Ankara,” the Anadolu news agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying in its statement.
The first reports about the talks between Russia and Turkey on the deliveries of S-400 air defence missile systems commenced in November 2016. Russia confirmed in September 2017 that the relevant contract worth $2.5 billion had been signed. Under the contract, Turkey will get two sets of S-400 air defence missile systems. The deal also envisages a partial transfer of production technology to the Turkish side. Turkey is the first NATO member state to purchase such air-defence missile systems from Russia.
The US and NATO have been making efforts to deter Turkey from purchasing Russia’s S-400 missile systems. Washington has warned on many occasions that it may impose sanctions on Turkey if Ankara goes ahead with the S-400 deal.
The S-400 system’s radars can identify aerial targets at a distance of up to 600 kilometers, while its surface-to-air missiles can hit aerodynamic targets at altitudes of 10,000-27,000 meters and ballistic threats at altitudes of 2,000-25,000 meters.
