Turkey's Defense Minister says US has no previous objections to S-400s

The United States has no more objections to Turkey's use of S-400 air defense systems purchased from Russia. This was stated by the head of the Turkish Defense Ministry Yaşar Güler on November 26.

"At our recent meetings (with the US. - Ed.) we rejected what they wanted from us regarding the S-400. Now the Americans have no objections. Every place where we will use the S-400 has been determined, everything is ready," T24 quoted him as saying.

Guler also noted that only an order from the Turkish authorities is needed for the systems to be directed to the right areas.

"The complex will be deployed about 12 hours before the state when we can use it," he added.

In addition, the defense minister announced that Ankara has again requested F-35 fighter jets from Washington.

"We have six F-35 aircraft there. <...> They say they can provide (fighter jets. - Ed.). We have resubmitted to the US our offer to buy F-35s," Guler informed.

In May, the head of the Turkish Defense Ministry ruled out the delivery of S-400 air defense systems to Ukraine. The Minister also told about the plans for weapons training in the country. Thus, he said that the project of special purpose aircrafts for electronic warfare HAVA SOJ is important, and activities on this issue continue - Tusaş and Aselsan companies are working intensively in this direction.

Moscow signed a contract with Ankara for the supply of S-400 in 2017. At that time, Turkey was the first NATO country to purchase these systems from Russia. This decision caused a negative reaction from the US and NATO. The White House repeatedly warned the Turkish leadership about the negative consequences of arms purchases from Moscow, and in March 2020 excluded Ankara from the program to create a new generation of F-35 fighter jets.

The S-400 is a long- and medium-range anti-aircraft missile system. It is designed to destroy all modern means of aerospace attack, including hypersonic ones. It was adopted by the Russian Armed Forces on April 28, 2007.