Turkey's contentious S‑400 systems might transfer to Ukraine: a move that could inflame Russia
The use of the S-400 by Turkey has been a contentious issue. In 2019, US authorities stated that Turkey was barred from purchasing F-35 fighters due to its use of this Russian air defence system. Just last year, this topic reignited debates, not only about NATO expansion but also about ongoing discussions regarding Turkey's procurement of aircraft from the US.
Will Turkey give up the S-400?
Following the Turkish President's ratification of Sweden's accession to NATO, US authorities agreed to sell F-16 fighters to Turkey. They also suggested that Turkey's return to the F-35 program could be possible, but only under certain conditions.
"We still believe Turkey's participation in the F-35 program is inconsistent with its operation of S-300 and S-400. So we are still engaging in these discussions. And if Turkey were able to dispel our concerns about that? Then there could be room to move toward returning to the F-35 program," said John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, at the end of January.
Being a NATO member, Turkey openly supports Ukraine, including providing Bayraktar TB2 drones (with plans for a dedicated service center in Ukraine), Cobra II armoured vehicles, and T-155 Firtina self-propelled howitzers.
The Ukrainian portal Defence Express highlights that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is skilled at negotiating with both the West and East. The S-400 is a weapon made by Russia, who maintains major ties with Turkey. Passing on Russian-supplied weaponry to Ukraine would be a significant strike against Putin, which according to Defence Express, would be akin to a "stab in the back."
Russian missile system S-400
The S-400 Triumf anti-aircraft system was developed in the 1990s. It boasts significantly greater capabilities than its predecessor, the S-300. It is a ground-to-air anti-aircraft system designed to intercept aircraft, helicopters, and ballistic missiles travelling at speeds of up to 4,800 km/h, as well as drones.
The range of the launchers depends on the type of missile employed. It can vary from around 40 km (using 9M96 missiles weighing approximately 350 kg) to around 380 km (using 40N6E missiles weighing around 1,800 kg).
