“U.S. Proposes Placing Turkey’s S-400 Air Defense System Under Its Control”
The plan involves relocating Turkey’s S-400 system to the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, a facility controlled by U.S. forces, allowing Washington to oversee the Russian-made air defense system.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – The United States has reportedly made a proposal to Turkey that would see the Mediterranean country “hand over” its Russian-made S-400 air defense system in exchange for being allowed to rejoin the F-35 fighter jet program.
According to Greek media reports, the U.S. proposal suggests Turkey would retain the S-400 system within its territory but transfer control of it to the United States.
The plan involves relocating Turkey’s S-400 system to the Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey, a facility controlled by U.S. forces, allowing Washington to oversee the Russian-made air defense system.
“The aim of the U.S. proposal is to enable Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program and proceed with the purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets, as previously agreed,” the report states.
Negotiations between Turkey and the U.S. are said to be at the highest levels, with both sides reportedly optimistic about a successful outcome.
S-400 “Triumf”
Turkey acquired the S-400 air defense system in 2019, a move that has been the source of ongoing tension between Ankara and Washington.
In 2017, Turkey signed a deal with Moscow to procure the S-400 system, valued at an estimated US$2.5 billion (RM10 billion).
The first regiment of the system was delivered to Turkey in 2019.
Turkey decided to acquire the S-400 after its negotiations to purchase the U.S.-made Patriot air defense system fell through.
The U.S. never provided a reason for its refusal to sell the Patriot system to Turkey.
This failure led Ankara to pursue the S-400 deal with Russia, which offered an attractive package that included technology transfer and local production of the missile system.
The latest 40N6 missile is deployed in the long-range S-400 “Triumf” air defense system.
Turkey conducted test firings of the S-400 missiles in Sinop last year.
However, due to its insistence on proceeding with the S-400 acquisition, Turkey faced consequences, including being expelled from the F-35 program and barred from purchasing 100 F-35 jets, despite having already paid a US$1.4 billion deposit.
Six F-35 jets, built for Turkey, are now grounded in the U.S. due to Washington’s imposition of military sanctions against Ankara.
Although Turkey was initially pleased with its acquisition of the S-400, questions have since arisen regarding the system’s integration with the rest of Turkey’s air defense network and the strategic value of the Russian system.
Despite having owned the S-400 system for several years, Turkey has yet to fully activate it within its national defense strategy.
The S-400 system remains stored in an undisclosed location and has not been operationalized.
Turkish completly built F-35 in the U.S but never delivered to the Mediterranean country due to sanctions imposed by the U.S after Turkey acquired the Russian-made S-400 air defence system.
Additionally, the Russian air defense system has been excluded from Turkey’s newly introduced “Steel Dome,” a layered air defense system.
Speculation about Turkey’s return to the F-35 program grew after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Victoria Nuland said in late January that Washington was open to “welcoming back” Turkey to the fifth-generation fighter jet program.
“If we can resolve the issue of the S-400 air defense system (purchased by Turkey from Russia), which we (the U.S.) want to resolve, the United States would be happy to welcome Turkey back into the F-35 family,” Nuland said.
“If we can overcome this issue, the CAATSA sanctions will be lifted, and we can resume discussions on the F-35,” she added.
Nuland’s remarks have sparked widespread speculation and questions in Turkey. – DSA