OREANDA-NEWS. The Ministry of National Defense of Turkey reported on Thursday the completion of the first stage of the supply of Russian anti-aircraft missile systems S-400 to the republic. “The deliveries of the first batch of S-400 components to the Murded airbase in Ankara have now been completed. As part of it, 30 flights of aircraft were made. It's expected that the deliveries of the second batch will also be made to Ankara”, the Defense Ministry said in a news agency statement.

In September 2017, the Russian Federation announced a contract for the supply of C-400 concluded with Turkey, cost is $ 2.5 billion. Ankara will receive a regimental kit (two divisions). The contract implies a partial transfer of production technologies to the Turkish side. The first deliveries began on July 12th.

The supply that the two countries had been waiting for so long began in July; during the decision-making on the supply, Turkey faced a crisis in relations with the United States. Washington demanded to abandon the deal and in exchange to purchase American Patriot complexes, threatening to delay or cancel the sale of the newest F-35 fighter jets to Turkey. However, Ankara refused to make concessions.

The S-400 Triumph is a Russian long-range and medium-range anti-aircraft missile system. It's designed to destroy air attack and reconnaissance weapons and any other air targets under conditions of intense fire and electronic countermeasures. The system is capable of striking airplanes and cruise missiles at a range of up to 400 km, and ballistic targets flying at a speed of up to 4.8 km/s at a range of up to 60 km.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Yuri Borisov, the contract provides for an option after the main part of the delivery is completed.