Russia Proposes Repurchasing S-400 System From Turkey

According to a recent claim by the Turkish media site Nephes, “Russia has proposed repurchasing the S-400 air defense system it sold to Turkey.” Russia allegedly offered Turkey a counterproposal to replace equipment that was lost during the conflict with Ukraine.

Designed to counter airplanes, drones, cruise missiles, and ballistic missiles, the S-400 Triumph is a multi-layer mobile launch system and missile launcher.


Two years after signing a $2.5 billion deal with Russia in 2017, Turkey received two S-400 Triumph systems. At the time, NATO and the United States refused to sell Turkey the Patriot system, thus Turkey opted for Russia’s cutting-edge S-400 system.

For NATO, this contract had major repercussions. Relations between the United States and Turkey deteriorated when NATO member Turkey introduced the Russian air defense system. The United States not only barred Turkey from the F-35 fighter jet program but also levied sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA).

Military analysts predict that successful negotiations between Russia and Turkey on the S-400 system could contribute to a change in the relationship between the United States and Turkey.

Turkey’s decision in 2019 was motivated by its desire to acquire both the Russian version of the THAAD system, the S-400, and the United States’ top-tier F-35 stealth fighter fighters. The United States strongly opposed the transaction at the time, with even then-President Donald Trump voicing concerns that the S-400 could be used to pass F-35 secrets to adversary Russia. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the president of Turkey, did not, however, give up.

In the end, the U.S. Department of Defense barred Turkey from the F-35 program and stopped training Turkish Air Force pilots to fly the aircraft. The NATO alliance was rocked by this agreement.

Steel Dome, Turkey’s own air defense system project, is presently underway.

In June, when Israel and Iran fought a 12-day battle, President Erdoğan noted that “the S-400 system cannot fully meet Turkey’s air defense needs.”

He added, “If Turkey had stood idle and relied solely on weapon purchases, these systems would not have been developed.” He also noted Turkey’s indigenously manufactured air defense missile systems, the Sıper, Korkut, Hisar, and Songur.