Turkey receives first S-400 defense system training in Russia

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A group of Turkish air force personnel received training for the Russian for S-400 defense system in northwestern Russia on Wednesday as the process of system component delivery continues amid US concerns.

“The training for the S-400 began in the Russian city of Gatchina with the participation of [Turkish] Air Force Command personnel as part of long-range air and missile defense system project,” read a statement from Turkish Defense Ministry on Twitter.

This is the first S-400 training by Russia to Turkish air forces, two years after both countries signed a deal for the system reportedly worth $2.5 billion.

Turkey received the first batch of the system components on July 12. The latest batch was delivered on August 27. 

The purchase of the system has improved Russia-Turkey relations, but harmed those between Turkey and its NATO ally, the US.

On an August 27 visit to Russia, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed a desire to continue strengthening military ties between the two countries.

The purchase of S-400 has concerned the US to a point of suspending Turkey’s purchase of its F-35 stealth warplane last month in retaliation to the deal with Moscow. The US has threatened to impose sanctions on Turkey if it presses ahead with the purchase, saying the missile system is incompatible with NATO hardware.

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said in an August 28 press conference that Turkey cannot take both weapons at the same time.

"I have been very clear in my both public comments and privately with my Turkish counterpart. It is the F-35 or the S-400. It is not both," he responded.