ANKARA – Turkish authorities are studying a Russian proposal for the supplyof fighter jets, Ismail Demir the head of Turkey’s Defence IndustryDirectorate said on Monday.
“We have a proposal from the [Russian] side, and we are evaluating thisproposal. It needs to be evaluated from a financial, technical andstrategic point of view. Now there is no question of giving an answer [tothe proposal]. It is necessary to conduct a broad analysis,” Demir told NTV.
He also confirmed that the deployment of Russian S-400 anti-aircraftmissile systemslinkinTurkey is ongoing, Sputnik has reported.
Demir also noted that the delivery of a second batch of Russian S-400missile defence systems may be delayed beyond a planned 2020 timeline overtalks on technology sharing and joint production.
On 22 October, Dmitry Shugaev, head of the Federal Service forMilitary-Technical Cooperation, announced that consultations were underwayon the possible supply of Su-35 and Su-57 fighters, but the conclusion ofcontracts was not yet discussed.
On 29 October, Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar denied reports thatAnkara would purchase Russian Su-35 fighters.
Moscow and Ankara signed a loan agreement for the supply of Russian S-400air defence systems to Turkey in September 2017. Russia completed the firstshipment of S-400 components to Turkey in late July 2019. With the secondtranche of deliveries wrapping up in late September, Foreign MinisterCavusoglu said that he did not rule out Ankara buying an additional batchof S-400s if necessary.
The US claims that the S-400 systems are incompatible with NATO’s airdefence weapons and may compromise the operations of F-35 fighter jets.Washington has repeatedly threatened to slap sanctions on Ankara over itspurchase of the S-400s.