Erdogan says Russian S-400s delivery could be earlier

AFP  |  Ankara 

said the delivery of Turkey's disputed Russian could be earlier than initially planned, Hurriyet daily reported on Wednesday.

US officials are concerned over the incompatibility of the S-400s with NATO as well as Ankara's increasingly close relationship with

"The missile defence system was to be delivered in July, maybe we will bring this forward," Erdogan told Turkish journalists on board his plane after a visit, the newspaper said.

Erdogan was in on Monday for talks with Russian Vladimir Putin, with the purchase and joint coordination in on the agenda.

"This step that we have taken for our country's security neither targets a third country nor does it give our sovereign rights over to a third country," Erdogan said.

In a bid to stop purchasing the S-400s, the US has offered to sell the US Patriot system but Turkish said this was not guaranteed.

"If the does not want to sell the Patriot, tomorrow we can buy a second S-400, or another defence system," he said during an interview with NTV broadcaster.

He said did not only need the S-400s but also "other defence systems".

Last week, put a freeze on its joint fighter jet programme with in protest over the S-400 deal. Turkey planned to buy 100 fighter jets, with pilots already training in the US.

The plane's manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, said that contracts with Turkish companies to build parts for the had been expected to reach $12 billion.

has said Turkey's role in the of the F-35s can be replaced.

"It is wrong to say 'we will take Turkey out' of this programme," Cavusoglu said.

Ties between and Washington have been damaged in the past few years over American support for a viewed as terrorists by Turkey, while the US has expressed concern over employees and citizens in Turkish custody.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

First Published: Wed, April 10 2019. 15:45 IST