Five Years After Purchase, Turkey to Activate S-400 Air Defence System for the First Time on Iraqi Border

(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — After five years of acquisition, Turkey is reportedly preparing to activate the S-400 “Triumf” defense system for the first time along its border with Iraq, speculated by Turkish media as part of the  preparation for summer offensive against positions of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) in Kurdistan.

PKK is a group Ankara categorizes as terrorist.

If confirmed, this marks the first operational use of the Russian-made air defense system since Turkey acquired it in 2019.

There has been speculation in Turkish media about the deployment of the S-400 to the Turkey-Iraq border to protect Turkish troops from the threats of drone by PKK militia.

 It is reported that the PKK has acquired drones capable of threatening Turkish military positions.

However, the primary function of the S-400 system is to counter higher threats such as fighter jets, and cruise and ballistic missiles, similar to recent missile attacks by Iran against Israel.

 

International media have cited analysts suggesting that the main reason for Turkey deploying the S-400 on its border with Iraq is to protect itself from potential Iranian missile threats.

This is underscored by Iran’s recent launches of ballistic missiles at targets in northern Iraq, allegedly associated with Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad.

Ali Bakir, a Turkey expert at Qatar University’s Ibn Khaldon Center and nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative, is skeptical of the report but doesn’t outright dismiss the possibility.

“This could be a trial balloon, an operational requirement due to the foreign threat in Northern Iraq, where Turkish troops are stationed, or simply untrue news,” Bakir told Business Insider.

“If the S-400 is deployed for operational needs, it could be to counter the potential threat of Iran’s ballistic missiles.”

Even though Turkey’s other air defenses are capable of combating aerial threats from the PKK, Turkey requires an advanced system for intercepting ballistic missiles fired from Iran.

 

“Considering that Ankara has stationed troops in Northern Iraq, it would be more logical to deploy such a system to protect them during regional escalation or confrontation,” Bakir said.

“Iran has used missiles lately against Northern Iraq.”

Bakir said that the recent missile attacks between Israel and Iran may be a further rationale to deploy the S-400 in Turkey’s east.

“Such deployment will serve Turkey’s security as well as the security of Iraq, which is improving its ties with Ankara lately in an unprecedented way,” Bakir said.

As a NATO member, Turkey also hosts several NATO military bases, including in Incirlik, a crucial air base for the US Air Force for conducting airstrikes against Iran-proxy groups.

 Some analysts argue that Turkey is using the threat of PKK drones merely as a pretext to deploy the S-400 to safeguard against Iranian ballistic missile threats.

 

Turkey spent approximately $2.5 billion to acquire the S-400 system from Russia, with the system delivered by Moscow in 2019.

The purchase led to significant friction with NATO, particularly the United States, which claimed that the system was incompatible with NATO defenses and could enable Russia to glean sensitive information on the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets.

Due to its insistence on purchasing the S-400, Turkey was expelled from the F-35 fighter jet development program by Washington, and its order of 100 F-35 jets was canceled, causing significant repercussions for Turkey.

 Despite facing various sanctions from the United States for procuring the Russian-made defense system, Ankara has not activated the S-400 since receiving it in 2019.

It remains unclear whether U.S. warnings influenced Ankara’s decision not to activate the system.

Turkish defense leaders assert that their S-400 system faces no operational issues and is ready for use at any time. — DSA