S-400 Deliveries Continue as Part Of ‘Most Important Agreement in Modern Turkey’ - Erdogan

On July 12th Turkey received its first batch of S-400 units, after considerable Western pressure for over a year to cancel planned acquisitions and instead purchase an American or European manufactured platform. On the morning of the 14th the fifth Russian plane carrying components of S-400 system arrived in Turkey, followed by two more batches later in the day. The Turkish Defense Ministry stated regarding the acquisition: "The delivery of S-400 parts to Turkey continues. In this context, the fifth plane has landed at the Murted Air Base. The arrival of another two planes is expected during the day.” The airbase is located 35km north of the capital Ankara, and is set to be the first site for the platform’s deployment. The ministry confirmed the delivery of the eighth batch of S-400 components on the morning of July 15th.

The S-400 was acquired under a $2.5 billion contract, and alongside the S-300V4 it is considered in its league of its own among long range air defence systems on world export markets. The platform is prized for its access to over half a dozen specialised munition types of various ranges - many of them hypersonic, it’s powerful sensors and electronic warfare countermeasures, its counter-stealth capabilities and its ability to engage up to 80 targets simultaneously - a record held by a considerable margin. The platform’s induction signals a new level of independence for Turkey in its defence from NATO and the Western Bloc, and a number of analysts have claimed it could mark a turning point in the country’s political history. Commenting on July 14th on the implications of the S-400’s delivery, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the deal with Russia as the ‘most important agreement ‘ in the country’s modern history. He also stated that delivery of all S-400 units could be completed within a year by April 2020.