Russia is issuing its warplane pilots on missions over Syria with pistols and Kalashnikov machine guns in case they are forced to eject and defend themselves on the ground.

This comes as images emerged of the Kremlin's most advanced missile defence system - the S-400 - deployed to protect its air force pilots in the war-ravaged country.

Russia has threatened to use the S-400's devastating firepower to defend its air strikes in Syria, which the West claims are targeted at moderate opponents of the Assad regime as well as ISIS jihadist terrorists.

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Russia is issuing its warplane pilots on missions over Syria with pistols and Kalashnikov machine guns in case they are forced to eject and defend themselves on the ground

A Russian pilot shows off his hidden weapons and bullets at Khmeimim air force base in Latakia, Syria

Future strikes by Turkey against Russian warplanes could see a devastating response.

The body of 45 year old pilot Lt-Col Oleg Peshkov - shot down by the Turkish air force last week provoking a major diplomatic crisis between Moscow and Ankara - was returned to his homeland on Monday.

There are claims he was killed by rebels after bailing out of his Su-24 bomber but the exact circumstances are still not clear.

His co-pilot Su-24 co-pilot Captain Konstantin Murakhtin survived after being plucked to safety in a rescue mission and is now back in Moscow.

Russia angrily denied Turkish claims that the Su-24 encroached Turkish airspace.

Turkey said they won't apologize to Russia for shooting down the warplane operating over Syria.

The Turkish Prime Minister stressed that the military was doing its job defending the country's airspace.

Ahmet Davutoglu also said Turkey hopes Moscow will reconsider economic sanctions announced against Turkish interests following last week's incident.

The Turkish resort town of Antalya is 'like a second home' to many Russian holidaymakers, he said, but refused to yield on Turkish security.

'No Turkish prime minister or president will apologize ... because of doing our duty,' Davutoglu told reporters after meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Brussels.

'Protection of Turkish airspace, Turkish borders is a national duty, and our army did their job to protect this airspace. But if the Russian side wants to talk, and wants to prevent any future unintentional events like this, we are ready to talk.'

Rounds of ammunition are hidden inside zip up pockets on the pilot's tactical vest

In the pilot's tactical vest are hidden a compass, a mirror for signals, radio transmitter, waterproof matches, and an automatic Stechkin hand gun with four sets of bullets

This image shows the moment the Russian Sukhoi Su-24 jet was shot down by Turkish F-16 fighter planes near the Turkish-Syrian border, in Hatay, which has seen NATO call an 'extraordinary' meeting and Russian President Putin warn of 'serious consequences'

The decision to issue handguns and AK 47s to pilots comes in wake of the death of Lt. Col Oleg Peshkov, who was killed after Turkish F-16s shot down his Russian warplane

A final guard of honour is given to the dead pilot as he leaves for Russia

Turkish and Russian military officers, rear, salute as a Turkish honour guard carry the coffin of tthe Russian pilot

Turkish honour guards stand after they placed the coffin of Russian pilot Lt. Col. Oleg Peshkov inside a Russian Air Force transport plane at Esenboga Airport

Syria_pilot Oleg Peshkov and soldier Alexander Pozynich are the first two Russian nationals to die in Syria

But today it was revealed Russian pilots are now carrying Kalashnikovs in their seats which eject with them in the event of a future strike.

The weapon is secreted in a space where an inflatable boat is normally kept. The air crew also each carry a Strechkin automatic pistol.

Images were shown today on pro-Kremlin media of the S-400 deployment and the Strechkin handguns but not the Kalashnikovs.

'The pilots have shown for the first time what their safety emergency kit contains,' reported news outlet LifeNews.

'In numerous pockets are hidden a compass, a mirror for signals, radio transmitter, waterproof matches, and an automatic Stechkin hand gun with four sets of bullets.

Conflicting stories: Turkey claims they shot the plane down as it was violating the country's airspace after the pilots ignored 'ten warnings in the space of five minutes', but Russia says the jet was in Syrian airspace

A picture has emerged of Alpaslan Celik (centre), a deputy commander in a Syrian Turkmen brigade, holding handles believed to be parts of a parachute belonging to a pilot of the downed Russian warplane

Celik is seen holding what are said to be parts of a parachute used by one of the pilots who ejected when a Russian jet was blown up

'And in the pilot's seat which ejects with him in case of emergency, instead of a rubber boat there is a Kalashnikov machine gun with several rounds of ammunition.'

The weapons are intended to help pilots protect themselves in hostile territory while awaiting rescue.

The new measures come as President Barack Obama urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to decrease tensions with Turkey following the shoot-down of a Russian jet by Turkish forces.

Obama and Putin met briefly on the sidelines of global climate talks outside Paris. The White House says Obama expressed regret for the death of a Russian pilot and crew member in that incident.

The White House says Obama told Putin that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad must leave power in the transition to end Syria's civil war.

Obama is also calling on Russia to focus its airstrikes in Syria on Islamic State militants, not rebels fighting Assad.