Türkiye confirms ongoing work on S-400 defence system

Türkiye's Ministry of National Defence has confirmed that work related to the Russian-made S-400 air and missile defence systems remains ongoing, while declining to provide details about the nature of the activities.

Speaking at a press briefing in Ankara, a ministry spokesperson said efforts concerning the S-400 program are continuing but offered no further clarification.

"Work related to the S-400 air and missile defence system is continuing on multiple fronts. The public will be informed of any concrete developments as they occur," the spokesperson said.

The statement comes amid media speculation over the future of the Russian-built systems. Last week, Turkish daily Hürriyet reported, citing unnamed sources, that Türkiye had resold the S-400 batteries to a Gulf state. The newspaper identified the United Arab Emirates and Qatar as the most likely buyers. Turkish authorities have not confirmed the report.

Türkiye signed a $2.5 billion contract with Russia in 2017 to acquire four battalions of the S-400 air defence system, a move that triggered tensions with the United States and other NATO allies.

Following the purchase, Ankara was removed from the US-led F-35 fighter jet program, with Washington arguing that the deployment of the Russian-made system alongside the stealth aircraft could pose risks to NATO's defence architecture.

By Vafa Guliyeva