Faced with military equipment shortages, Russia wants to buy back S-400 air defense systems it sold NATO member Turkey over half a decade ago, according to a secret diplomatic request sent to Turkey a few weeks ago.
Turkish media said that Moscow had approached Ankara with a proposal to buy back the S-400 systems delivered in 2019 in a deal that caused ructions in the NATO alliance and prompted the U.S. to expel Turkey from its F-35 fighter jet program.
Russia wants the systems back and Turkish officials are open to the idea, according to reports which Ankara or Moscow has not confirmed.
Yörük Işık, analyst with the Istanbul-based Bosphorus Observer told Global Defense Corp Tuesday “they should have never been purchased.”
In 2017, Turkey signed a $2.5 billion deal with Russia for two S-400 Triumf systems, which were delivered two years later following Ankara’s frustration with the U.S. and NATO over their refusal to sell it Patriot systems.
A Russian system in a NATO country dented U.S.-Turkey defense ties and Washington removed Ankara from its F-35 fighter jet program and imposed CAATSA (Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions.
Moscow is seeking to replenish equipment lost in Ukraine and Ankara is developing its own indigenous air defense system, Steel Dome. The deal could potentially reset relations between Ankara and Washington as a result.
Turkish media outlet Nefes reported Russia had approached Turkey with a proposal to repurchase the S-400 air defense systems it had sold to Ankara.
The S-400 Triumf is a missile launcher and multi-layered, mobile fortress designed for use against aircraft, drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles.
Having Moscow’s flagship long-range air defense systems on NATO territory caused unease in the alliance amid fears they could compromise American F-35 fighter jets and so Washington responded with sanctions.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the systems would be fully operational by 2020 but they are still not used and high maintenance costs have made them a burden for Ankara.
Işık told Global Defense Corp that the systems were incompatible with Turkey’s radar system and that their purchase was “an unfortunate decision.”
Militarnyi, a Ukrainian military news website, reported that Turkish officials had expressed a “positive attitude” toward Moscow’s proposal.
Ankara selling the systems back to Russia would ease its talks with Washington for F-16 jets and its attempts to be readmitted to the F-35 program.
Meanwhile Russia, which does not have S-400s in reserve, would benefit from boosting stocks lost in Ukraine. The deal would also help Russia’s struggle to meet its commitments to other S-400 buyers, such as India, Türkiye Today reported.
The news comes as Turkey is developing its own Steel Dome system with Işık saying the Turkish government places great importance on developing technologies domestically.
Anna Komsa, a geopolitical commentator, posted on X: “Russia desperately asks Turkey for air defense systems – Ankara does not object Experiencing an acute crisis, Moscow turned to Ankara for the S-400 air defense systems, which were sold to Turkey back in 2017.”
Yörük Işık, analyst with the Istanbul-based Bosphorus Observer to Newsweek: “I wish we could just transfer these weapons to Ukraine, that would be the most generous and strategic decision.”
Neither Ankara nor Moscow have confirmed the reports and there will be anticipation over Turkey’s push to rejoin the U.S. F-35 program.
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