All articles tagged with #s 400
At a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said the U.S. will lift sanctions on Turkey and signaled openness to resuming F-35 sales despite Ankara’s Russian S-400 system, arguing Turkey has loyally supported the alliance; however, CAATSA restrictions and congressional concerns mean any sale would face legal and security hurdles.
Trump says he’s attending the NATO summit in Ankara largely to meet Erdoğan, signaling a closer U.S.–Turkey defense alignment as Turkey’s strategic value—military heft, geography, and role in Ukraine and the Black Sea—rises for NATO, even as Congress scrutinizes a $700 million arms sale and concerns persist over Turkey’s S-400 system and other policy divergences.
Russia has approached Turkey to buy back the S-400 air defense systems it sold to Ankara in 2019, amid inventory shortages and Turkey's development of its own defense system, Steel Dome. The move is linked to Turkey's efforts to reduce dependence on Russian technology and improve relations with the US for F-16 jets and F-35 reentry. Russia's interest in replenishing its S-400 stockpile is driven by battlefield losses and supply issues, while Turkey's S-400s remain underutilized and a point of tension with the US.
Russia has reportedly approached Turkey to buy back the S-400 air defense systems it sold to Ankara in 2019, amid inventory shortages and Turkey's development of its own defense system, Steel Dome. The move could help Russia replenish its stockpile and ease Turkey's reliance on Russian technology, potentially facilitating Turkey's negotiations with the U.S. for F-16s and reentry into the F-35 program. The situation reflects ongoing tensions and strategic adjustments involving NATO, Russia, and Turkey.
Turkey is seeking to rejoin the US-led F-35 program after being expelled in 2019 due to its purchase of Russian S-400 systems, with discussions ongoing and optimism about lifting sanctions and finalizing the sale, amidst regional and political opposition, including from Israel.
NATO is set to conduct the Nordic Response 2024 military exercise near Russian borders, involving 13 countries and over 20,000 troops, with a focus on countering potential threats from Russia. The exercise may feature the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet scanning Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems, potentially revealing vulnerabilities of both parties' advanced military technology. The Su-57's passive sensor suite is highlighted as a potential advantage in close-range encounters, while concerns arise about the potential exposure of vulnerabilities during the exercise.
In less than a month, the Ukrainian navy has destroyed two of the five S-400 air-defense batteries deployed by Russia in occupied Crimea. The strikes were carried out using the Ukrainian navy's Neptune ground-launched anti-ship cruise missile, which has proven effective against the S-400 system. These successful attacks have weakened Russia's air defenses in Crimea, making it more vulnerable to future strikes. The Ukrainian navy's goal is to clear the way for the Ukrainian air force to target the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.
The Ukrainian navy reportedly used its Neptune anti-ship missiles in land-attack mode to destroy a Russian S-400 air-defense battery in Crimea. The Neptune missile, modeled after the Russian Kh-35, has the capability to strike ground targets. Ukraine has been expanding its deep-strike capability by acquiring Western-made missiles and modifying its own munitions. The modified Neptune missile, with a range of 225 miles, could potentially target Russian forces across most of Crimea. This strike on the S-400 battery may be the first time Ukraine has used the modified Neptune in combat, raising questions about the effectiveness of Russia's best air-defense system.
Romania has announced its plan to purchase the F-35 stealth fighter jet, joining other NATO members in acquiring the advanced weapon. However, Turkey, one of NATO's biggest militaries, is barred from the program due to its purchase of a Russian-made air-defense system, the S-400. Turkey's decision to choose the S-400 over the F-35 has been described as "baffling" by some in the West, as it was an original partner in the US-led F-35 program. Ankara still wants the planes or the $1.4 billion it contributed to the program.