ugc_banner

Russia, Turkey working on new S-400 missile contract: Sources

Reuters
Moscow, Russia Updated: Dec 06, 2019, 02:29 PM IST
main img
File photo: S-400 missile defence systems. Photograph:(Reuters)

Story highlights

Such a deal would be likely to further strain Ankara's relations with Washington which has suspended Turkey from the US F-35 stealth fighter jet programme. 

Russia and Turkey are working on a contract for the delivery of a new batch of Russian S-400 missile systems, the Interfax news agency cited a senior official at a Russian military cooperation agency as saying on Friday.

Such a deal would be likely to further strain Ankara's relations with Washington which has suspended Turkey from the US F-35 stealth fighter jet programme, in which it was a producer and buyer, to penalise it for buying S-400 batteries this year.

"We're gradually working on this question. Most importantly, both sides are intent on continuing cooperation in this sphere," the head of Russia's Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation was quoted as saying.

The official, Dmitry Shugaev, said he thought there was a "fairly high likelihood" Turkey and Russia would sign a contract for the delivery of an additional batch of S-400s next year.

The head of Russia's state arms exporter told RIA news agency on November 26 that Moscow and Ankara were actively discussing Ankara taking up an option in its original missile contract for it to receive more S-400 systems.