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With a range of 400 kilometers, S-400 Triumf is designed to shield from air strikes, strategic, cruise, tactical and operating tactical ballistic missiles and medium-range ballistic missiles [Russian MoD]
Turkish media has quoted government officials saying a deal to purchase advanced Russian air defence systems from Russia has been completed.
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told local media on Wednesday that delivery of the S-400 system is scheduled by the end of the year.
The US has tried to block the deal by pressuring Ankara with possible sanctions. There have been hints that Turkey could end up forfeiting purchase of Lockheed Martin F-35 advanced fighter jets.
Turkey is a member of the North Atlantic Treay Organization (NATO), which considers Russia a threat in Europe.
“There is no need to make any statements regarding S-400, this is a done deal. Turkey will never backtrack on its earlier promises. What others say does not concern us,” Cavusoglu said of the contract signed in September 2017 for $2.5 billion.
Russian sources say Turkish military personnel will begin training on operating the S-400 system as early as this April.
The Russian-Turkish deal comes on the heals of other media reports, as well as in the official TASS news agency, indicating that Russia and Saudi Arabia are holding talks to finalize purchase of the S-400 missile system.
Read: India ignores US, buys Russian
The S-400 is believed to be able to engage all types of aerial targets including aircraft and VLO (Very Low Observable) craft.
With a range of 400 kilometers and an altitude of close to 32 kms, S-400 Triumf is designed to shield from air strikes, strategic, cruise, tactical and operating tactical ballistic missiles and medium-range ballistic missiles, as well as neutralize drones.
The S-400 ‘Triumf’ air defence missile systems is equipped with three different types of missiles and an acquisition radar capable of tracking up to 300 targets within the range of nearly 600 kms.
Triumf is a system made of eight launchers and a control station.
The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies
