Turkey purchases four Russian S-400 missile batteries for $2.5 bln

Turkey and Russia have completed negotiations for the purchase of four S-400 missile batteries for $2.5 billion, to be paid partly as Russian credit to Turkey, according to the head of Russia’s state-run defense company Rostec.

Speaking to Russian Kommersant newspaper, Rostec CEO Sergey Chemezov confirmed that Turkey purchased four S-400 missile batteries for $2.5 billion as he answered questions regarding the financial aspect of the prospective deal.

Chemezov said that negotiations regarding the loan Turkey will receive in order to purchase the S-400 missile batteries have been completed, according to reports.

“There’s nothing left but the approval of the latest documents that are in their final status. It will be paid partly upon signing the deal, with 45 percent to be paid in advance, and the remaining 55 percent will be covered by Russian credit,” according to Chemezov.

Chemezov also noted that Turkey is set to receive the first S-400 missile system shipment by March 2020.

Turkey had previously stated that it will purchase four S-400 missile batteries from Russia for over $2 billion, however, the exact figure had not been disclosed.

The S-400 missile system, which is the best currently in-use anywhere in the world, is capable of destroying jets and drones, in addition to shooting down ballistic and cruise missiles.

With a maximum range of 400 kilometers, the S-400 missile defense system is capable of reaching targets at a maximum altitude of 30 kilometers, and is equipped to simultaneously strike 80 different targets with two missiles each.

Upon its deployment, Turkey will become the first NATO country in possession of the S-400 missile defense system.