The National Interest named the reason for Turkey's purchase of Russian S-400s
Turkey could buy s-400 anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia, including due to the events of 2016, when many Turkish F-16 fighter pilots were arrested after the coup attempt, the media write. Against this background, the United States did not provide the expected support to the Turkish authorities, so in 2017 it signed a contract to buy Triumphs from Russia.
One of the reasons for Turkey's purchase of Russian s-400 anti-aircraft missile systems (SAMS) is that in 2016, many Turkish F-16 fighter pilots were arrested after the coup attempt, which hit the Turkish air force hard, according to the American publication The National Interest.
The attempted coup in Turkey took place in the summer of 2016. Then the authorities of the Republic blamed the preacher Fethullah Gulen for the incident. Several thousand people suspected of supporting the coup were arrested in connection with these events. Among them were the military, journalists and law enforcement officials.
After the departure of 300 disloyal specialists in Turkey, there was practically no one to control the fighters.
Against the background of such events, Turkey was forced to start searching for new opportunities for the defense of the country's airspace. So the Turkish side came up with the idea of purchasing Russian s-400 Typhoon anti-aircraft missile systems. Already in 2017, Moscow and Ankara signed a contract for the supply of these systems in the amount of $2.5 billion, half of which is covered by a Russian loan. Turkey became the first country in the North Atlantic Alliance to purchase these SAMS from Moscow. Their first deliveries began on July 12 last year.
The contract signed by Moscow and Ankara provoked outrage from the United States, which called on Turkey to reject the deal. Washington also offered to buy American Patriot systems instead of Russian systems.
The military bloc explains its concern about this deal by the fact that through the" Triumph " there may be a leak of information that reveals the capabilities of American 5th-generation f-35 Lightning II fighters. For this reason, Washington suspended the delivery of these aircraft to Ankara, although Turkey was supposed to receive more than 100 units of this equipment.
They were also going to impose sanctions on the Turkish side in accordance with the law "on countering America's adversaries through sanctions" (CAATSA). However, in fact, restrictive measures against Ankara were not applied, despite the requirements of the document.
But the ultimatums did not affect Turkey's decision to purchase the S-400: it did not abandon its position. In mid-October, the Republic first tested anti-aircraft missile systems purchased from Russia at exercises in the North of the country, near the city of Sinop, TASS reported, citing a military and diplomatic source.
"Three s-400 missiles were launched during the exercise. All of them successfully hit the designated targets, " the source said.
As reported in early November, in order to protect American equipment, the US Senate began developing a bill in which the sale of advanced weapons systems to other States, including the 5th-generation f-35 Lightning II fighter jets, will involve restrictions on the acquisition of foreign technologies by buyers that pose a threat to American ones.
Journalists noted that, in addition, the United States is considering the initiative of a member of the house of representatives from the Democratic party, Eliot Engel. He proposed changes to the legislation, according to which States that acquire F-35 Lightning II and other advanced weapons, including drones, will have to inform Washington about the goals and plans for using the purchased weapons.
"Non-NATO countries such as Finland and Switzerland are also considering purchasing F-35S, and they will also have to adhere to the new rules if any version of the bills is passed," Breaking Defense said.
Lydia Misnik