Russia may supply Turkey with anti-aircraft systems
The Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation, Alexander Fomin, stated that discussion on supplying anti-aircraft systems to Turkey remains on the agenda of the Russian-Turkish military technical cooperation. According to him, when it comes to large air defense systems, they can be utilized as anti-missile systems, Interfax reported.
“These large air defense systems, are simultaneously anti-missile systems. Today, even mid-range Buk systems can shoot down missiles, as well as S-300 and S-400 missile systems. That is why, when it comes to air defense systems or anti-missile systems, then they are all relevant parts of a larger air defense system,” Fomin explained.
Relations between Russia and Turkey deteriorated after a Turkish fighter jet shot down a Russian Su-24 frontline bomber on 24th of November 2015, resulting in the death of the pilot. The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, called this a "stab in the back from terrorist facilitators". Russia imposed a number of economic restrictions against Turkey. In late June, Putin announced the beginning of the normalization process of trade and economic relations with Turkey.