"Our friends have already signed (a deal on) S-400s. A deposit has also been paid, as far as I know. The process will continue by the transfer of a credit from Russia to us. Both Mr. (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and myself, we are determined on this issue," Erdogan told journalists.
The Turkish leader also commented on some Western media reports that Ankara could backtrack from buying the Russian-made missile systems as they wouldn’t be interoperable with NATO’s radars, TASS news agency reported.
"It’s us who will make decisions regarding our independence. We are responsible over taking security measures for the defense of our country. We’ll save ourselves if we face difficulties in procuring defense systems," he said, according to the paper.
Russia’s S-400 Triumf is the latest long-range antiaircraft missile system that went into service in 2007. It is designed to destroy aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles, including medium-range missiles, and can also be used against ground objectives. The S-400 can engage targets at a distance of 400 km and at an altitude of up to 30 km.
Russian Aerospace Force Deputy Commander-in-Chief Viktor Gumyonny said in April that missiles capable of destroying targets in outer space had started arriving for the S-400 systems.