Turkey's S-400 deal to include 'partial technology handover', Kremlin says

A handover of technologies could mean that Turkey will be able to develop and produce its own missiles.

2 min read

29 June, 2019

Turkey could be able to produce its own missiles in the future [Getty]

Moscow's controversial deal with Ankara, under which Russia would supply S-400 missile defence systems to Turkey, is set to include a partial handover of technologies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Saturday, the Interfax news agency reported.

A handover of technologies may mean Turkey will be able to develop and produce its own missiles in the future.

The previously proposed sale of US Patriot missiles to Ankara was cancelled after the US refused a technology handover with Turkey.

President Barack Obama's refusal to allow Turkey to procure the Patriot missiles forced Erdogan into the S-400 deal, US President Donald Trump claimed earlier on Saturday.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said earlier on Saturday Ankara would not be backing down from its plan to buy the S-400 systems despite facing pressure from the United States over the sale.

Acting US Defense Secretary Mark Esper made it clear on Wednesday that Turkey will face economic sanctions if it goes ahead with the purchase.

But in a meeting with Erdogan on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Japan, Trump expressed sympathy with Turkey over the "complicated" situation.

While reports stated Trump did not rule out sanctions in the meeting, Erdogan later told reporters that the US president had said Turkey would not face sanctions over the deal.

Tensions between Turkey and the United States have risen in recent months over Ankara's purchase of Russian S-400 defence systems.

Washington has urged Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to step back from the purchase, warning that if Ankara goes forward, it will forfeit its place in the F-35 fighter jet program lest it compromise NATO's defence network.

Erdogan claimed on Saturday that the delivery of around a hundred F-35 jets, already paid for by Turkey, would go ahead despite those threats.

The S-400s are expected to be delivered to Turkey next month, but plans over where the systems would be stationed are still unsure.