Turkey has ‘no hesitations’ about buying second batch of Russian-made S-400 missile systems, Erdogan says

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said he has no doubts about Turkey buying another batch of S-400 anti-aircraft systems from Moscow. Earlier, the Russian exporter said a new contract will likely be signed by the end of the year.

Speaking to reporters on board his plane as he returned from a visit to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Sunday, Erdogan said defense cooperation with Russia is expanding, with the procurement of S-400 missile systems expected to go smoothly.

We have no hesitations about the purchase of a second batch of S-400s from Russia. Turkey and Russia are taking a lot of steps, whether it be with S-400s or other areas in the defense industry.

“In my last telephone talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, we discussed this topic. When I travel to Russia, we will discuss it again,” Erdogan added.

Earlier this week, Alexander Mikheev, director general of Rosoboronexport, Russia’s state-owned arms exporter company, said a new contract with Turkey on S-400s was expected to be signed shortly. “We expect that the second contract on S-400 for Turkey will be signed this year,” he said.

READ MORE: Turkey tells US purchase of Russian S-400 defense system is a ‘done deal’

The first contract between Turkey and Russia on the air-defense systems was signed back in late 2017. The $2.5 billion deal envisioned delivery of four full S-400 batteries, including launchers, command and logistics vehicles, as well as missiles for the system. The deliveries of the systems began in 2019 and have been completed.

Ankara’s move prompted a furious reaction in the US, with Washington repeatedly attempting to pressure Turkey into abandoning the deal, claiming S-400s were incompatible with and even potentially dangerous for NATO systems.

Turkey, however, has not bowed to the pressure, with the S-400 issue leaving a major dent on the country’s relations with the US. The deal ultimately prompted Washington to kick Ankara out of the F-35 fifth-generation fighter program, canceling sales of the aircraft.

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Washington also targeted Turkey’s defense sector with sanctions last December and has threatened further penalties if Ankara was to purchase more arms systems from Moscow.

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