Turkey expected to sign new S-400 contract with Russia not too late

A member of the Turkish President ’s Security and Foreign Policy Committee expected on the 2nd that Turkey “not too late” signed a new contract with Russia for the purchase of the S-400 air defense missile system.

    Committee member Ismail Safi told Russian Satellite News Agency that when Turkey will buy the S-400 from Russia "it is just a technical issue" and the purchase date "will not be too late."

    He said: "Turkey must get Russia's S-400 air defense missile system. Doing so will not weaken NATO's defense capabilities, but will strengthen it. But we are not doing this for NATO, but to strengthen our air defense system."

    Alexander Mikhev, general manager of the Russian Defense Products Export Corporation, confirmed in late November that it is expected to sign a new contract with Turkey for the sale of S-400 in the first half of next year.

    Turkey signed an agreement with Russia in 2017 to purchase 4 S-400 systems, which in turn offended the United States and other NATO allies. The United States believes that the S-400 is not compatible with the NATO weapon system. The installation of this Russian-made system in Turkey may help Russia locate and track the F-35 stealth fighter of the United States and its allies in the future.

    The United States demanded that Turkey abandon the purchase of S-400. Turkey insisted on fulfilling the contract and determined that other countries have no right to interfere, and received the first batch of S-400 system equipment in July.