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
-
![Polaris expands Arctic mobility offering as US military orders grow]()
Polaris expands Arctic mobility offering as US military orders grow
The Military 850 Voyageur 155 Crossover has secured orders from the US Army, Air Force and Marine Corps, addressing demand for agile Arctic mobility with passenger, cargo and towing capacity.
-
![More bidders move onto starting grid for British Army Land Rover replacement programme]()
More bidders move onto starting grid for British Army Land Rover replacement programme
The Light Mobility Vehicle segment of the UK’s Land Mobility Programme for the British Army may actually be about to make progress, or at least likely bidders seem to think so. Shephard spoke with several contenders who revealed their views on how the army should replace the ageing fleet.
-
![Northrop Grumman pushing ahead with smaller Integrated Battle Command System]()
Northrop Grumman pushing ahead with smaller Integrated Battle Command System
Northrop Grumman’s Integrated Battle Command System is in service with Polish forces and is being introduced to US forces, with further development underway on the original platform as well as a smaller, more mobile system.
-
![UK’s ground-based air defence effort remains in assessment phase after third industry day]()
UK’s ground-based air defence effort remains in assessment phase after third industry day
The UK’s plan to introduce a new air defence capability into the British Army will cover short and medium-range defence as well as counter-uncrewed aerial system systems. Timelines are not yet laid out but industry is making plans.
