S-400 defense system: What Russia is able to do to Turkey

It's likely in July. Many Signs Turkey Will Be First, Single Member NATO, which will receive the modern Russian air defence system S-400. The American government's appeals to cancel the $2.5 billion deal with Russia seemed useless. Washington's concern is: Moscow would spy on NATO through its weapons systems. For one thing, this is true of American fighter F-35 planes whose US sale threatens to stop it in Turkey.

S-400 air defence system: flexible and free

S-400 “Triumph” ( Natto-Codename SA-21 Growler) is a long-range and medium-sized air defence system of action. This is the most powerful model yet in a series, which took place in the Soviet Union after World War II and was later modernised in Russia. Number 400 shows the maximum range of action in miles. According to the Defence Ministry in Moscow, S-400 is the backbone of Russian air defence. It was established in the ministry in 2007. Since then, more and more units have been equipped with it, including the Ukrainian Analyses of Crime and the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad in the Baltic Sea.

The manufacturer is state-run defence company Almaz Anteyić , which, due to Russia's actions against Ukraine, lies on sanctions lists, both in the EU and in the US. S-400 has been developed to launch aircraft, tactical ballistic missiles and toss up to 27 kilometers. Russian media claim it is better than competition by the US or France. The “Ruses have always been the leader in missile technology”, turn Richard Connolly from the British University of Birmingham. “Arsey has been that the West produces better aircraft. S-400 is also very flexible and can be used with different types of missiles”. Another advantage is the price. “S-400 is at least twice as cheap as the American system “Patriot”, Connolly says. But for purchase there may also be political reasons. The fact that S-400 is designed for use against American weapons may be attractive to Turkey, British expert says. It's about cases such as coup attempt in 2016, when the presidential plane was threatened by F-16s' fighter jets. Moscow military expert Alexander Golts believes buying S-400 is purely political. Turkey has no enemies to fight S-400. This is a signal for the US and others, that Ankara has an independent defence policy”, Golts says.

 First time, war in Syria

Turkey would be second to China, receiving S-400. India has signed a 5 billion-dollar contract, and awaits surrender. Some Gulf states have signaled interest. But S-400 also has their disadvantages, experts say. It is not used in any serious war situation”, says Siemon Wezeman of the Stockholm International Institute for Peace Studies, SIPRI. The only “System tested in combat has been that “Patrios” in the Russian War has placed S-400 in Syria to protect its bases there. President Vladimir Putin said they are testing new weapons systems there. “S-400 has had the opportunity to show its capabilities during US missile attacks with “Tomahaw” in Syria in 2018, but the Russian leadership has been reasonable enough, not to do this”, says Alexander Golts.

There were speculations later, that the system may not have detected low - flight missiles.

Turkey Hopes for Technology Transfer From Russia

Previous models, such as S-300, were held in the Soviet Union as part of a broad nationwide air defence system. The particular of S-400 is that he can be used alone. That is what enables Turkey to operate with Russian weapons outside the NATO network. But there seems to be a dilemma here: in a larger network Turkey would better use S-400, but perhaps also open up spy opportunities for Russia. It remains open, how it will protect Turkey S-400 from air strikes.

In Russia, you get this “Panzir S-1” ( NATO-Codenname SA-22 Greyhold, a modern short-range air defence system. He is sent to Russian troops along with S-400. If Turkey wants to buy such a system in Russia, it is unclear. Moscow has signalled it would like to sell other Ankara weapons. Turkey, however, is also hopeful for the transfer of technology from Russia. Several parts for S-400 will be produced in Turkey. “It's more of a symbolic participation”, says Alexander Golts. “Some screws, no more”. According to unconfirmed Russian media reports, Moscow has refused to give Turkey access to electronic parameters, including intelligence software “Mik/Armic”.

The model is ready for production, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on Tuesday. The new Moscow system expects a broader range of action, which can also shoot low-surficion satellites. But even the most modern weapons can fail because of logistics. The deal with Beijing, for example, was accompanied by an independence. During a sea travel storm to China, a supply of S-400 rockets reportedly was damaged by water and replaced in early 2019.