S-400 air defense deployment to begin in April, Erdogan says

S-400 batteries

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday said the deployment of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems would commence in April.
Erdogan made the statement during his meeting with the journalists in the wake of his Moscow talks with his Russian counterpart President Vladimir Putin.

"They [S-400] already belong to us. In April, we will begin deploying them," Erdogan said, according to Yeni Safak newspaper.

In September 2017, Russia announced a deal on S-400 shipment signed with Turkey with a net worth of 2.5 billion which angered Washington and other NATO members. The first shipments have begun on July 12, 2019.


Both the US and NATO actively oppose the deal. On July 17, the White House spokesperson announced that Turkish decision to procure S-400 makes its participation in the F-35 program impossible.