Turkey Activates S-400's Sensors, Using F-16s to Test Capabilities

Following mounting threats from the United States over Turkey’s acquisition of the Russian S-400 surface to air missile systems, and demands that Ankara destroy the system or return it to Russia, Turkey’s armed forces  have begun testing the weapons system’s sensor suite in the country. Turkish media reported on Monday that the Ankara Governorate announced announced that sorties would be flown near the Turkish capital to test the S-400's radar in the coming days. “Within the scope of some projects carried out in coordination with the Presidency of Defence Industries, F-16 aircraft and other aircraft belonging to the [Turkish] Air Force will carry out low and high altitude test flights on Monday and Tuesday in the skies of Ankara,” the governorate announced. Turkey is the first state to operate the S-400 alongside Western fighter jets, and is currently the world’s largest foreign operator of the American F-16 Fighting Falcon which will form the bulk of NATO’s fighter fleet throughout the 2020s and into the 2030s. While the F-16 has been in frontline service for over 40 years, the S-400’s modern sensors were designed to counter far more sophisticated aircraft with radar evading capabilities including F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II stealth jets.

The announcement that Turkey has begun testing of the S-400’s sensors came shortly after Defence Minister Hulusi Akar states his country’s intent to active the system shortly. He stated to this effect: “The S-400 will be functioning. At the moment, Turkish military personnel are undergoing training on the use of the S-400s. After this is concluded, the planned [use of the S-400s] will start. Do not doubt it.” Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu has meanwhile indicated that the country could increase its order for S-400 systems if needed, with the battalions currently on order insufficient to protect high value targets across the country’s vast territory. Turkey is currently considering acquisitions of further Russian aerial warfare systems including air superiority fighters - namely the Su-35 and Su-57.