S-400 Air Defense Systems To Arrive By End Of Year

Turkey expects to take delivery of S-400 air defense systems ordered from Russia by the end of the year, reports Russia's Tass news agency. 

Undersecretariat for Defense Industries Celal Sami Tufekci made the announcement on Thursday after an appearance at a think tank event in Washington, D.C. 

Tufekci said the decision was made after a failure to agree with the U.S. on the price, production location and technology transfer for a Patriot air defense system sale. 

Washington was also slow to deliver its proposal for the Patriot, which only arrived last month, he said. 

Earlier that day, a U.S. official told the Hurriyet Daily News (Istanbul) that Washington would cancel the proposed Patriot deal if Ankara goes through with acquiring the S-400. 

U.S. officials say that the purchase of the Russian system could endanger Turkey's participation in the F-35 stealth fighter program.

Lawmakers have proposed legislation that would cancel F-35 jet sales if Turkey acquires the S-400.