Turkey will not give up Russian air defense systems until it acquires a new system of a similar type, claims a Turkish expert, quoted by v. " ;Turkiye", commenting on publications in the American press, according to which Turkey may sell the Russian systems to a third party, which would allow its eventual return to the F-35 fighter program, BTA reported.
The American magazine "Forbes" wrote recently that Turkey will no longer need the S-400 air defense system with the activation of the so-called A steel dome built with Turkish made systems and may sell it to one of Russia's allies India or Pakistan. According to the magazine, this could open the door for Turkey to return to the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet program.
The possibility of the S-400 systems purchased by Russia being sold to other countries was raised earlier by former State Minister Javit Çağlar, reminds "Turkiye".
Experts, including defense specialist Turan Oguz, indicated, however, that the S-400 systems, which protect Turkey against ballistic missile attacks, cannot be sold without a counterpart.
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Until there is an opportunity to replace the S-400, it cannot be abandoned, Oguz told the newspaper. He pointed out that in accordance with the promises made to NATO in this regard, the S-400 system is not integrated into NATO systems, but Turkey has connected it to its own radar network and it continues to operate independently.
"The indigenously produced defense systems do not have a ballistic missile defense network. The S-400s protect Turkish airspace from ballistic missiles within a radius of 400 km. The SİPER air defense system, which will enter the inventory this year, provides protection in an area of 100 kilometers and does not yet have ballistic protection, he explained.
According to the expert, however, the S-400 systems are not the only reason why the US is preventing Turkey from participating in the F-35 program.
"If the USA does not want to give us the F-35, even if the issue of the S-400 is dropped, they will raise the issue of Cyprus, Russia or the Ecumenical Patriarchate; there are many excuses. There are dozens of similar proposals in Congress for various reasons," he said.