Russia to complete delivery of S-400 missile systems for Turkey by May 2019
The Russian Defense companies were instructed to complete the production of S-400 surface-to-air missile systems that will be delivered to Turkey before May 2019, a military-diplomatic source told TASS news agency.
"The companies working on the order were instructed to finish the production of systems before May 2019 to begin supplying Turkey in July," the source said. The Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation of Russia and Rosoboronexport (Russia’s arms exporter) have not commented on this information.
Turkey became the Russia’s second customer to buy the S-400 system after China. It was announced that the contract was signed in September 2017. Initially, the systems would have been transferred to Turkey in early 2020. The Turkish government later requested to deliver them by July 2019.
As the military-diplomatic source specified, one part of the S-400 regiment batch will be delivered by sea and another part will be sent by air. "In accordance with the terms of the contract, Turkey will receive two batteries with eight launchers each," the source said.
The S-400 Triumph is a long- and medium-range, anti-aircraft missile system. It is designed to defeat air attacks and counter air reconnaissance including stealth aircraft, as well as any other air targets.