TEHRAN – A high-ranking Russian military figure says Moscow plans to sign anew contract with Turkey to supply new batteries of the advancedRussian-made S-400 missile defense systems to Turkey in the first half of2020.
“We hope that in the first half of 2020 we will sign contract documents.However, I want to emphasize that military-technical cooperation withTurkey is not limited to the supply of S-400s. We have big plans ahead,”Russia’s RIA Novosti news agency quoted the chief executive of Russia’sstate-owned arms trade company Rosoboronexport, Aleksandr Mikheev, assaying on Tuesday, Press TV has reported.
He went on to say that Ankara has an option for another S-400 regiment, andhas already received the terms of reference from Moscow.
Mikheev noted that the terms of reference provide for the technical supportof the project by the Turkish side, including partial localization of theproduction of individual elements of the system.
He, however, stopped short of providing any information about what elementsand in what volumes would be manufactured in Turkey.
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Mikheev also said Russia and Turkey were discussing the financial side ofthe new agreement.
The remarks come only two days after Turkish media outlets reported thatTurkey was set to test its S-400 missile defense system despite repeatedwarnings from Washington that it could lead to sanctions.
