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TASS reports (source):
Turkey continues deploying Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems and has activated their certain elements, Head of Turkey’s Defense Industry Ismail Demir said on Friday.
“The process of deploying S-400s continues and certain systems have been put into operation,” the newspaper Milliyet quoted him as saying.
Russia won’t have ‘the desired access’ to the S-400 systems deployed in Turkey, Demir said.
“Although the agreement on the deliveries includes provisions on the training [of the Turkish personnel], technical maintenance and technical support, the Russian personnel will not be able to get the desired access to S-400 batteries,” Turkey’s defense industry chief said.
Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said on April 30 that the process of deploying S-400 air defense missile systems in the country was being delayed over the coronavirus pandemic. He said, however, that “this process will be continued in accordance with the plans.”
Spokesperson for the US Department of State Morgan Ortagus said on April 21 that Washington “is deeply concerned” with reports that Turkey was continuing its efforts to make the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems operational.
Russia announced in September 2017 that it had signed a $2.5 billion deal with Turkey on the delivery of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Ankara. Under the contract, Ankara will get a regiment set of S-400 air defense missile systems (two battalions). The deal also envisages partial transfer of production technology to the Turkish side.
Turkey is the first NATO member state to purchase such air defense missile systems from Russia. The deliveries of S-400 launchers to Turkey began on July 12, 2019.
The United States and NATO have been making attempts to prevent Turkey from purchasing Russia’s S-400 missile systems. Washington has warned on many occasions that it may impose sanctions on Turkey, if Ankara presses ahead with the S-400 deal. On July 17, 2019, the press secretary of the US White House said in a written statement that Turkey’s decision to acquire Russian-made S-400 air defense systems rendered Ankara’s further participation in the US program of the fifth-generation F-35 fighter-bomber impossible.
The S-400 ‘Triumf’ is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range weapons, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.
even the turks recognize amerikan incompetence
US weapons are mostly Hollywood props and very expensive and useless.
India has ordered extra batteries due to the successful introduction of the original shipment. The US patriots have repeatedly proved as duds and one of the reasons they are being withdrawn from Saudi Arabia is to save face as they failed to detect even a single Houthi missile or drone.
“and can also be used against ground installations” So that was why Russia kept insisting that these defensive systems can be treated as offensive. lol They used to rationalize it by saying defensive systems are part of offensive missile systems because they blunt the counter attack.
Russian posture has always been defensive,don’t mean they don’t pack alot more punch:
at least Patriot has been fired multiple times against ballistic missiles from yemen and intercepted some. call me when the triumf achieves it’s combat debut. i suspect Russian air defence systems, especially the S series, do not perform to the standard one sees in the widespread hype. hence why the russians are reluctant to fire these things in combat in syria because they will be exposed as ineffective
“a country’s sharpest weapons cannot be displayed”. Lao Tzu.
Why give away the surprise element for some nothing militants that you can take out with weapons you’ve used before.