Erdogan says Russia, Turkey may discuss joint production of S-500 defence system

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Ankara and Moscow might launch talks on joint production of Russian-made S-500 air defence systems after the S-400 deliveries, Sputnik reports.

Previously, Turkey has repeatedly expressed its interest in the joint production of S-400. In April, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov specified that "there is and can be no talk" about the two countries’ joint production of S-400 systems. He, however, did not rule out that some components would be produced jointly.

"The S-400 deal is completed. Under the contract, the deliveries are to begin in July or, maybe, even earlier. Russia has offered us very good conditions. After that, we will talk about the S-500, including joint production [of these systems], as well as S-400," Erdogan said at a meeting with the youth, as broadcast by the NTV channel.

Erdogan added that the United States had already handed over five F-35 fighters to Turkey. The president expressed confidence that Washington would fulfil all its obligations to Ankara under the F-35 programme.