Russia to begin delivery of S-400 missile system to Turkey next year
Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile launching system is displayed at the exposition field in Kubinka Patriot Park outside Moscow on August 22, 2017. (AFP)
Staff writer, Al Arabiya English Tuesday 21 August 2018
Russia is to begin delivery of S-400 missile defence system to Turkey next year, the Interfax news agency cited Russia's state arms exporter Rosoboronexport as saying on Tuesday.
The S-400 Triumf is considered the latest Russian long-range anti-aircraft missile system.
The United States has expressed concern that NATO member Turkey's planned deployment of the Russian-made S-400 could risk the security of several US-made weapons used by Turkey, including the F-35 jet.
Rosoboronexport also said it would switch to using local currencies in deals with foreign trade partners, instead of using the dollar, the RIA news agency reported.
Since 2016 Turkey started negotiations with Russia on the potential purchase of S-400 air missile defense systems, Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said on Friday, adding that Ankara was also in touch with other countries on missile defense. Read more
On the other hand, In February the Saudi Ambassador to Moscow Raed bin Khaled Qrimli said that the negotiations to supply Saudi Arabia with Russian missile systems S-400 is in its final stages, reported Okaz Saudi newspaper via Russian News Agency (TASS).
In a related context, TASS pointed out that the Russian President adviser for Technical Cooperation Vladimir Kuzin said in an interview with the Russian Kommersant newspaper, earlier, that the documents for shipments of S-400 to Saudi Arabia, was signed and approved by all standards.
On October 5, 2017, TASS quoted the information office of The Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSVTS) as confirming an agreement with Saudi Arabia, for the sale of the S-400 air defense system, a Kornet-M anti-armor system and a rocket launcher Tos-A1, the AGS-30 grenade launcher and the Kalashnikov AK-103, during King Salman's visit at the time.
With Reuters
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