Turkey, Russia close to signing S-400 missile systems supply contract

Turkey and Russia are close to signing a contract for supplying of S-400 missile systems, Russian defense giant Rosoboronexport said Tuesday, Daily Sabah reports.

"The contract is close to signing, but has not been signed yet and, accordingly, has not yet entered into force," Rosoboronexport general director Alexander Miheyev said, adding that "the work continues, technical nuances remain."

Turkey has agreed to pay Russia $2.5 billion for the S-400 systems, a Turkish official said July 13, making the country the first NATO member country to purchase the S-400 defense system.

With the purchase of the S-400's, Ankara aims to build Turkey's first long-range air and anti-missile defense system to guard against threats in the region.