ANKARA, July 25. /TASS/. The first stage of the deliveries of Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile systems to Turkey has been completed, the Turkish Defense Ministry announced on Thursday.

"The deliveries of the first batch of S-400 equipment to Murted Air Base in Ankara have been completed today. A total of 30 flights were performed to deliver the first batch. The second batch is also expected to be delivered to Ankara," the Anadolu news agency quoted the Defense Ministry as saying in its statement.

The first reports about the talks between Russia and Turkey on the deliveries of S-400 air defense missile systems emerged in November 2016. Russia confirmed in September 2017 that the relevant contract worth $2.5 billion had been signed. Under the contract, Ankara will get a regiment set of S-400 air defense missile systems (two battalions). The deal also envisages partial transfer of production technology to the Turkish side.

Turkey is the first NATO member state to purchase such air-defense missile systems from Russia. The deliveries of S-400 air defense systems to Turkey began on July 12, 2019.

The United States and NATO have been making attempts to prevent Turkey from purchasing Russia's S-400 missile systems. Washington has warned on many occasions that it may impose sanctions on Turkey, if Ankara presses ahead with the S-400 deal.

The S-400 ‘Triumf’ is the most advanced long-range air defense missile system that went into service in Russia in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and can also be used against ground installations. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.