Russia signals interest in new deal with Turkey for S-400 air defence systems

Russian Deputy Prime Minister Yuri Borisov said that Moscow is ready to sign a new contract on the delivery of S-400 air defence missile systems to Ankara, if partners in Ankara express such a desire.

“They have such an option and we will sign the deal, if they express the desire,” Borisov said.

Turkey has been the first NATO member state to purchase the S-400 air defense missile systems from Russia.

Russia announced in fall 2017 the signing of a $2.5 billion deal with Turkey on the delivery of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems.

Under the contract, Ankara received a regiment set of S-400 (two battalions). The deal also envisaged partial transfer of production technology to the Turkish side. Deliveries reportedly began on July 12, 2019.

Turkey’s decision to acquire the Russian-made S-400 caused a series of complaints from the United States and NATO as a whole amid security concerns. As a result Ankara has been excluded from the US led fifth-generation F-35 fighter-bomber program.

The US has also considered imposing Turkey unilateral sanctions over the purchase of the S-400 system.

China considers Russian S-400 missile systems a ‘necessity’, according to Russian media said quoting Chinese sources.

Because of its capabilities, several countries including China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, India, and Qatar have expressed their appreciation for the S-400 system. China indeed was the first foreign buyer to seal a government-to-government deal with Russia in 2014.

These are four reasons why China wants to buy the Russian S-400 missile defence system.