After Paying Advance, Turkey Wants Early Delivery of S-400 Missile System

Russia’s presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin said Turkey is requesting early delivery of its S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, confirming an advanced payment from Ankara.

"Yes, we have received it (advanced payment). We cannot name the dates of supply yet. They want earlier [than 2019], but the issue is still being discussed," Kozhin was quoted as saying by Sputnik Friday.

The S-400 system has a range of 400km (248 miles) and can shoot down up to 80 targets simultaneously, aiming two missiles at each one.

Last week, Ankara reportedly made the first payment on the delivery of Russian S-400 surface-to-air missiles to Turkey.  The deal is thought to be worth $2.5bn (£1.9bn).

Turkey has the second-largest army in Nato. The alliance reacted sceptically to the decision, saying the system was not compatible with its equipment.The US has also warned Turkey that its recent purchase of antiaircraft missile systems from Russia may have violated a U.S. law that requires automatic sanctions to be imposed against Ankara. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has dismissed Western concerns about the $2.5 billion deal, saying NATO only has itself to blame because it has been slow to provide his country with weapons systems.