Russia and Turkey will open negotiations about the possible purchase by Ankara of the advanced Russian-made S-400 air-defense system.
Aleksandr Fomin, head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, told Interfax on November 18 that an intergovernmental commission will “hold a meeting soon” to discuss a possible sale of the S-400.
Turkish Defense Minister Fikri Isik said on November 17 that Ankara is considering purchasing the Russian system, but he also said he hoped the country’s NATO allies might offer other solutions.
Turkey held talks on buying a similar air-defense system from China last year, but withdrew from the talks after NATO allies objected.
The S-400 is a mobile air-defense system capable of hitting targets at a wide variety of ranges.
In addition to shooting down conventional aircraft of all types, it is able to defend against ballistic and cruise missiles.
