S-400

Ankara will begin receiving Russian S-400 Triumf missile defense systems in ten days, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reportedly said on Monday.

“We will get the Russian systems in ten days. I’m certain we can resolve disagreements with the US caused by the S-400 deal,” NTV reported quoting Tayyip as saying on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan, after negotiations with his US counterpart Donald Trump.

“Washington will not impose sanctions on Ankara over the purchase of Russia’s S-400 systems,” he added. The President also said that Ankara is awaiting the delivery of 100 fifth-generation F-35 American fighters.

Recent reports suggested that Turkey was considering alternatives such as the Russian Su-57, Chinese J-31 or even accelerating the development of its own fighter jet, after the US-Turkey F-35 Jet deal seemed to be heading towards a possible collapse.

The relationship between the two countries soured further with Russia’s proposal of manufacturing components of the S-400 systems jointly with Turkey. Washington also halted the training of Turkish pilots of US F-35 fighter jets, in addition to threatening economic and other military sanctions as Ankara insisted on its S-400 deal with Russia.