Russia, Turkey agree to speed up delivery of S-400s
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on 3 March he had agreed with Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan to speed up the delivery of S-400 air defence missile systems to Ankara, a purchase that has alarmed Turkey's NATO partners.
'We took the decision to speed up the timetable for the delivery of these highly effective Russian systems,' Putin told reporters after talks with Erdogan in the Turkish capital, referring to the S-400s but without giving a date.
Putin said that acceleration in production of the weapons was being done at the 'request of our Turkish partners and friends'.
The deal has been valued at about $2 billion according to reports.
Russian officials had said in December that the first deliveries of the S-400s were likely to begin at the end of 2019 or beginning of 2020.
Such a major purchase of weaponry from Russia by a key NATO member had raised concerns both over Turkey's strategic orientation and the compatibility of the systems within the alliance.
But Erdogan indicated that Turkey was in no mood to listen to criticism from the West over the purchase.
'This is a decision of Turkey. We made an agreement about the S-400s [with Russia] and this issue is now closed,' he said.
According to Russian press reports, Turkey has also been hugely interested in a technology transfer and even joint production of the S-400s with Russia, a prospect that has been resisted by some in the Moscow security services.
But Putin refused to discuss the issue saying 'these are exclusively commercial questions' rather than political ones.
More from Land Warfare
-
![Patria lifts the lid on new FAMOUS armoured fighting vehicle]()
Patria lifts the lid on new FAMOUS armoured fighting vehicle
One of the few new tracked armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) to be shown in Paris at Eurosatory in June 2024 belonged to Patria. The vehicle is being developed as part of a multinational FAMOUS (Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems) programme.
-
![IDEX 2025: Milrem Robotics unleashes Havoc]()
IDEX 2025: Milrem Robotics unleashes Havoc
Milrem Robotics has added a large 8x8 Uncrewed Ground Vehicle (UGV) to its list of products as it continues to ramp up production of its Tracked Hybrid Modular Infantry System (THeMIS) UGV.
-
![Saab receives $60 million contract for anti-tank and air defence systems for CV90s]()
Saab receives $60 million contract for anti-tank and air defence systems for CV90s
The Universal Tank and Anti-Aircraft System (UTAAS) is a modular, integrated sight and fire control system for BAE Systems Hägglunds Combat Vehicle 90 (CV90) and acts against both aerial and land targets.
-
![What is preventing the Pentagon from fielding emerging missile defence technologies?]()
What is preventing the Pentagon from fielding emerging missile defence technologies?
Issues related to low budgets and the slow speed of development programmes are among the main obstacles the US DoD must overcome in respect to missile procurement and deployment.
-
![Need to develop AI-powered red pictures for battlefield situational awareness?]()
Need to develop AI-powered red pictures for battlefield situational awareness?
Leverage Systematic's SitaWare suite to fuse intelligence and share awareness of your opponent’s deployments and capabilities.
-
![Lockheed Martin awarded $2.8 billion THAAD development contract]()
Lockheed Martin awarded $2.8 billion THAAD development contract
The contract amount for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) Weapon System will support its continued development over the next five years, with two options to extend for up to 10 years.
