ANKARA — Turkey could finalize terms for delivery of a second consignment of S-400 advanced missile defenses from Russia by April when the first batch will be ready to operate, Ankara's defense industry chief said on Friday. Turkey has already agreed to buy two consignments of S-400s, triggering a crisis with the United States and possible U.S. sanctions, but Ankara is discussing technology transfer and joint production with Moscow for the second batch, he said. The United States says the S-400s are incompatible with Western defenses and has suspended NATO ally Turkey from an F35 stealth fighter jet program because it fears Russia would gain information about the jets through deployment of the systems. Ismail Demir, head of the Turkish Defence Industry Directorate, said Ankara was still interested in buying U.S. Patriot defenses. Turkey had no preconditions, he said, but Washington has repeatedly asked Turkey to drop the S-400s.

Source: International New York Times December 13, 2019 10:36 UTC