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Turkey Completes Deal to Buy Antimissile System From Russia Turkey Completes Deal to Buy Antimissile System From Russia
(about 7 hours later)
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey has completed a deal with Russia for the purchase of a Russian antimissile system, Turkish defense officials announced Friday, despite concerns voiced by some of Turkey’s NATO allies.ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey has completed a deal with Russia for the purchase of a Russian antimissile system, Turkish defense officials announced Friday, despite concerns voiced by some of Turkey’s NATO allies.
The deal, which would make Turkey the first member of NATO to own Russia’s most advanced air-defense system, comes amid strengthening ties between Turkey and Russia and the deterioration of Turkey’s relationship with the United States and other Western countries.The deal, which would make Turkey the first member of NATO to own Russia’s most advanced air-defense system, comes amid strengthening ties between Turkey and Russia and the deterioration of Turkey’s relationship with the United States and other Western countries.
A state-run agency, the Turkish Defense Industries Undersecretariat, said in a statement on Friday that Turkey would buy at least one S-400 surface-to-air missile battery with the option of purchasing a second. The delivery of the first battery was scheduled for the first quarter of 2020, the statement said.A state-run agency, the Turkish Defense Industries Undersecretariat, said in a statement on Friday that Turkey would buy at least one S-400 surface-to-air missile battery with the option of purchasing a second. The delivery of the first battery was scheduled for the first quarter of 2020, the statement said.
The two countries on Friday also completed a financial agreement for the project, under which part of the cost would be financed through a Russian loan, the Defense Industries agency said, without revealing details of the deal.The two countries on Friday also completed a financial agreement for the project, under which part of the cost would be financed through a Russian loan, the Defense Industries agency said, without revealing details of the deal.
Turkish news media reported on Friday that Turkey would purchase four S-400 units at a cost of $2.5 billion. Sergei V. Chemezov, chief executive officer of Russia’s state-controlled Rostech corporation, also told the business daily Kommersant in an interview published Wednesday that the contract was worth $2.5 billion and that a Russian loan would account for 55 percent of the sum.Turkish news media reported on Friday that Turkey would purchase four S-400 units at a cost of $2.5 billion. Sergei V. Chemezov, chief executive officer of Russia’s state-controlled Rostech corporation, also told the business daily Kommersant in an interview published Wednesday that the contract was worth $2.5 billion and that a Russian loan would account for 55 percent of the sum.
Mr. Chemezov said that Turkey would buy four batteries and that the first deliveries would start in March 2020, according to Kommersant. Mr. Chemezov told Kommersant that Turkey would buy four batteries and that the first deliveries would start in March 2020.
“It’s the first NATO country to purchase our most advanced S-400 system,” he said.“It’s the first NATO country to purchase our most advanced S-400 system,” he said.
The reason for the discrepancy over the number of batteries Russia would supply to Turkey was not immediately clear. The defense industries agency would not disclose the cost of the project or other details, citing “principles of secrecy” agreed to by the two countries.The reason for the discrepancy over the number of batteries Russia would supply to Turkey was not immediately clear. The defense industries agency would not disclose the cost of the project or other details, citing “principles of secrecy” agreed to by the two countries.
The S-400 has a range of about 250 miles and can simultaneously engage multiple targets. It is capable of shooting down ballistic missile warheads along with aircraft and cruise missiles.The S-400 has a range of about 250 miles and can simultaneously engage multiple targets. It is capable of shooting down ballistic missile warheads along with aircraft and cruise missiles.
Russia deployed the S-400 to its base in Syria to deter Turkey when the two nations were on the verge of conflict after a Turkish jet downed a Russian bomber on the Syrian border in November 2015.Russia deployed the S-400 to its base in Syria to deter Turkey when the two nations were on the verge of conflict after a Turkish jet downed a Russian bomber on the Syrian border in November 2015.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey announced in September that Turkey had signed a deal to buy the Russian system and made a down payment, drawing concerns from some of Turkey’s NATO allies.
Some NATO countries have expressed worries that the S-400 system is not compatible with the alliance’s weapons systems.Some NATO countries have expressed worries that the S-400 system is not compatible with the alliance’s weapons systems.
The defense industries agency said the Russian system would be operated under the full control of the Turkish military and “in an independent manner, without any links to any outside elements.”
“The system’s operation, management, and systems recognizing friends and foes will be undertaken through national means,” it said.