Turkey has found Greek deployment of its S-300 air defence systems (ADS) as a convenient cover to use its own S-400 ADS against the wishes of the United States.
Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar today said Ankara will use the armament (S-400 ADS) just as other members of the NATO military alliance employ their S-300 defense systems.
“Just as the S-300 [missile defense] system, which exists in some NATO member states, is used in the alliance, the S-400 system will also be used [in Turkey] in the same way,” Akar told members of the Turkish parliament’s Planning and Budget Committee on Thursday, Turkish media reported.
He noted that Greece has the Russian S-300s in its inventory, along with some other NATO countries that use Russian-made weapons. Akar noted that Turkey would continue on the control and preparation process of the S-400 system “as planned.”
He reiterated Ankara’s demand that the US form a joint working group on the compatibility of the S-400 system and F-35 stealth fighter jets. “We’re ready to discuss the technical concerns of the US on the compatibility of S-400s and F-35s.” he said.
The Greek Armed Forces carried out the first test firing of the S-300 ADS at the NATO Missile Firing Installation (NAMFI) in Crete, Greece as part of the Lefkos Aetos 2013 (White Eagle 2013) military exercise. The firing occurred some 14 years after its initial purchase.