MOSCOW – Russia says it is highly likely that Moscow will sign a newcontract with Turkey to supply its military with Russian air defensemissile systems.
“The likelihood of a new contract for the delivery of Russian air defensemissile systems to Turkey is high,” Interfax news agency quoted DeputyPrime Minister Yury Borisov as saying on Saturday, without giving moredetails.
Moscow and Ankara finalized an agreement on the delivery of the S-400missile systems in late 2017. So far, Turkey has received two batteries ofthe advanced Russian-made systems. The deliveries are set to continuethrough April 2020.[image: PressTV-‘Delivery of 2nd S-400 battery to Turkey completed’]link
The S-400 entered service with the Russian army in 2007 and is consideredRussia’s most advanced long-range anti-aircraft missile system.
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Capable of engaging targets at a distance of 400 kilometers and at analtitude of up to 30 kilometers, the missile system can destroy aircraft aswell as cruise and ballistic missiles. It can also be used againstland-based targets.
Turkey and the United States have been at loggerheads over Ankara’spurchase of the S-400 systems, which Washington says are not compatiblewith NATO defenses and poses a threat to US Lockheed Martin F-35 stealthfighter jets, on which Turkey had signed a deal with the US.
