The S-400s will be ready at full capacity, including training and other activities, until April 2020. Induction of Sukhoi fighters is also possible in Turkish Airforce.
While Russian Forces started training on the Russian S-400 Air Defense system. In a meanwhile, İsmail Demir, the president of Turkey’s state defense industry institution revealed on Sept. 4 that the S-400s will be ready at full capacity, including training and other activities, until April 2020.
“The procurement first and second batteries will be completed until the end of September and then, the first setup will be finished until the end of 2019. However, when we take training and software works into account, (the S-400s) will be available for use in full capacity in April 2020”, Demir said during an interview with a private channel.
After the completion of the initial shipments, the delivery of the second system including the third and fourth S-400 Regimental sets will finalize by the end of 2020, Demir said.
The Air Defense missile systems were a crucial need for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), he added.
“The acquirement of air defense systems has been wanted by all bodies of the TSK for many years,” he said.
Regarding the possible and obvious procurement of the Russian Su-35 and Su-57 fighter jets after expulsion from F-35 Stealth fighter program, Demir said making such a decision is a lengthy process that depends on multiple parameters, but Turkey is taking all offers into consideration.
“Purchasing sophisticated systems such as aircraft is not like shopping from a grocery store. It is a process that demands many long talks and analyses. We have made the initial contacts,” he said.
“The Su-35 (Russian fighter jets) can only be an interim remedy. It is not possible for (Su-35) to exactly meet our operational requirements for now. These are fighter jets,” he added.
Demir said that a future that includes joint works on the fighter jets, while Turkey continues with its own national aircraft by using the jets’ technology, can be “more sensible.”
“What’s really important here is Turkey’s self-sufficiency and independence. At this point, we need to talk at length about what kind of support the partner-country will provide with which parameters and the benefits that will be acquired,” he said.
