Russia and Turkey have reached an agreement in principle on the delivery of the second set of S-400 air defense systems, head of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries of the Republic Ismail Demir said.
Russia fulfilled in 2019 the first contract for the supply of four S-400 divisions to Turkey in the amount of 2.5 billion dollars. The contract also includes an option for another regimental set
"We have the agreement to supply the second set of S-400s. There are still technical works on technology transfer, details of joint production, and the road map, " Demir said NTV.
According to him, Turkey intends to put the S-400 into operation, despite the delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.
"The S-400 system is being purchased for use. That's it. This has been repeatedly discussed at all state levels. The work continues, " Demir said.
He said that Ankara " is interested in the proposals for Patriot and Eurosam air defense systems."
"If they are specific, we will continue working on them. The discussion on Patriot has yet to reach a solution. On Eurosam, we are already working with France and Italy. For the Turkish part, it is almost finished. As soon as the other two countries finish their part, we will move on, " added the head of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries.
Deliveries of the latest Russian S-400 air defense systems, which caused a crisis in Turkey's relations with the United States, began in mid-July 2019. Washington demanded to abandon the deal and instead purchase American patriot complexes, threatening to delay or cancel the sale of the latest F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, as well as impose sanctions in accordance with CAATSA (the law "The Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act"). Ankara refused to make concessions and continued negotiations on an additional batch of S-400s.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Sergey Malgavko / TASS
Based on materials from RIA Novosti