Russia began supplying S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Turkey. This was reported in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.

"As part of the fulfillment of contractual obligations on July 12, 2019, the first batch of property from the S-400 anti-aircraft missile system was delivered to Turkey," the department said in a statement.

It is noted that further deliveries will be carried out in the time agreed by the parties to the contract. According to the press secretary of Russian President Dmitry Peskov, both sides strictly fulfill their obligations.

“Everything is carried out in strict accordance with the agreements reached and the signed contracts. All obligations of the parties are fulfilled, ”he said.

Earlier on the start of deliveries reported in the Ministry of Defense of Turkey. It is noted that the plane with the components of the C-400 arrived at Murted Air Base in the province of Ankara.

Later, the country's defense industry secretariat announced that the operation of the complexes would begin after they were assembled.

“Delivery of the remaining components will continue in the coming days. After the air defense systems are assembled, they will be used in the format adopted by the relevant departments, ”the statement reads.

There are no problems in the issue of supplies, the parties are closely coordinating on this issue, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt авavuşoлуlu.

“We are in close coordination with the Russian Federation in connection with the commencement of deliveries of the C-400 - on the issues of permits for the arrival of airplanes, delegations, and so on. There are no problems, the process will continue as expected, ”the minister said.

Thus, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan demonstrated that the pressure of the United States, opposing the acquisition of the C-400, can be resisted, said the first deputy chairman of the committee on international affairs, Vladimir Dzhabarov.

“Turkish President Erdogan showed Western politicians that the US pressure can be successfully resisted. We know how they attacked him at all levels because of the purchase of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems. Erdogan defended his right, and he started from a completely pragmatic history, ”he said RT.

The AFP agency, citing a representative of the NATO press service, said that the organization was “deeply concerned” about the fact of the supply of Russian air defense systems to Turkey.

TASS, citing a military diplomatic source, reports that in the near future a second aircraft with components will arrive in Turkey, and 120 missiles for the C-400 will be delivered by sea.

“In the near future, another plane will fly to this country - with the second batch of equipment and machinery. The third part of the delivery - more than 120 anti-aircraft guided missiles of various types - will be sent later, approximately at the end of summer, by sea transport, ”the agency’s source said.

“Partial Technology Transfer”

Recall that the contract for the supply of C-400 to Turkey became known in September 2017. Ankara purchased four ZRK divisions worth $ 2.5 billion. By agreement, the C-400 production technology was partially transferred to the Turkish side. This information was confirmed at the end of June by Dmitry Peskov.

“The contract implies a partial transfer of technology to production. Partial, ”he said.

Also, the Russian side has trained the Turkish military to use these complexes. According to Sergey Chemezov, Director General of Rostec, all of them have already been trained.

Dzhabarov recalled that Turkey is the first NATO country to which the Russian air defense system was deployed.

“We will cooperate and maintain these complexes. This is an indication that normal relations can be built even with member countries of the alliance. Reason triumphed, and our relations with Turkey will only strengthen, ”said the senator.

Ankara’s fulfillment of its S-400 commitments demonstrates Turkey’s intention to defend its security, albeit to the detriment of relations with the United States, said Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, Yuri Shvytkin.

“The beginning of the first deliveries of S-400 components to Turkey is an indicator of mutually beneficial agreements between Ankara and Moscow and an indication that Turkey is not worried about how to please the United States, but about the security of its state,” he said RT.

“The supply of these complexes is beneficial, because in a certain sense it is, apart from the fact that it is a lucrative contract, also a certain blow to the influence of the United States,” said Andrei Manoilo, professor of Moscow State University in a conversation with RT.

“They behaved very dishonest with him”

The United States opposes the procurement by Turkey of S-400 complexes from the moment this agreement became known. Washington has repeatedly warned Ankara that if the Russian complex goes into service with the Turkish army, Turkey will not receive fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets. At the same time, Turkey took part in the aircraft development program.

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  • © US Air Force photo / Randy Gon

This issue was raised during the meeting between Erdogan and US President Donald Trump at the G20 summit in Osaka. The American leader then admitted the injustice of the claims of Washington.

“He made an agreement, he spent money, invested a lot of money. As soon as he bought them, people from our country called him and said: “Listen, we don’t want you to buy these systems, because these are not NATO systems,” Trump said. “I will tell you honestly, I am completely on the side of our country, but with him they behaved very dishonestly.”

Responsible for this situation, Trump called his predecessor Barack Obama. According to the head of the White House, Turkey was forced to buy C-400, because the United States refused to sell its Patriot system. At the same time, despite the recognition of injustice, Trump stressed that Washington would not allow the delivery of F-35, as they are incompatible "in terms of national security."

Erdogan noted that Turkey fulfills its obligations to pay for airplanes and is awaiting the start of deliveries of the F-35.