Turkey intends to buy another batch of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview with CBS.
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"In the future, no one will be able in what kind of defence systems we acquire, from which country, or at what level. No one can interfere in this. Only we make such decisions," Erdogan said.
"Of course, of course, yes," he answered affirmatively answering the question of whether Turkey intends to purchase another batch of Russian S-400.
The U.S. has repeatedly expressed concern over Turkey's acquisition of the S-400, as it believed that Russia could use these systems to obtain information about fifth-generation F-35 fighter-bombers. In addition, the Pentagon stated that Turkey should return the S-400 to Russia if Ankara wants to receive Patriot missile systems from the United States.
Washington excluded Ankara from the F-35A production program immediately after Turkey purchased the S-400.
At the end of August, Erdogan said that Ankara was ready to purchase a second batch of S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia.
On 25 August, the head of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) Dmitry Shugaev said that negotiations with Turkey on a new contract for the S-400 are in the final stage. Earlier that day, the head of Rosoboronexport (ROE) Alexander Mikheev said that the contract for the supply of an additional batch of S-400 air defense systems to Turkey could be signed this year.
Ankara had bought four divisions of S-400 air defense systems (Almaz-Antey Concern) worth $2.5 billion from Russia. On 23 October 2019, Rosoboronexport reported that Russia had fulfilled this contract ahead of schedule, supplying Turkey with all elements of S-400 systems, including missiles. The head of Rostec, Sergei Chemezov, previously said that Turkey had paid for the S-400.
Translated from AVN Interfax
