Turkey-Russia missile deal done, finance to be resolved

By Sarp Ozer and Merve Yildizalp

ANKARA (AA) - Ankara and Moscow have agreed on the “technical issues” relating to the purchase of a Russian missile system, Defense Minister Fikri Isik said Tuesday.

The sides remain in negotiation on the financial package surrounding the deal for S-400 missiles, he added.

“All technical issues, both by the Russian side and the Turkish side, are over,” Isik said in an interview with broadcaster TRT Haber. “Now it is time for the final decision.

“Now, we continue work on the financial method. I think we will bring this to a point in the coming days.”

However, Isik said Turkey would work on developing a national missile defense system with fellow NATO members Italy and France.

Russian presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin said last week that Moscow and Ankara had agreed the delivery of S-400 mobile systems but the Kremlin had not approved a loan for the deal.

He added that Russia saw “no obstacles” to providing missiles to a NATO member.

The S-400 system was introduced in 2007 and can carry three types of missiles capable of destroying ground and air targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.

It can track and engage up to 300 targets simultaneously and has an altitude ceiling of 27 kilometers (17 miles).