What Turkey's S-400 missile deal with Russia means for Nato

BBC ^ | 13 June 2019

[BenLurkin]

The S-400 is a generic name for a variety of air defence systems configured in slightly different ways. But whatever version Turkey is buying, the simple fact is that the Russian system cannot be easily incorporated into the wider Nato air-defence system in the region.

This matters because air defences - and we are talking here about defending against both manned aircraft and ballistic missiles - comprise a variety of radars and missiles, each tailored to dealing with particular kinds of threats at particular altitudes.

So the whole is more than just the sum of the parts. Remove one crucial element from the mix by insisting upon a stand-alone system, and the overall defence is weakened.

Russia makes very good air defences. But installing a new system in a Nato member like Turkey is going to require trainers and on-the-ground support which raises all sorts of security concerns. What else might the Russians learn as they help to install and calibrate the weapons?

This is especially worrying for the Americans because Turkey is planning to deploy advanced US-built F-35 warplanes. Indeed, the first couple have already been handed over to Turkey in the US, where Turkish pilots have already been training on them.

The US fears that a Russian presence and involvement in Turkey's air defences, operating alongside the F-35, could enable Moscow to glean all sorts of useful intelligence.

Turkey insists that the missiles and the bases where the F-35 will operate will be geographically separate. It is also clear that Russia already has the means to gather all sorts of useful data on the F-35. It is already in operational service with the Israeli Air Force and its activities are being closely monitored by Russian radars in Syria.

[BenLurkin]

[ballplayer]

We might as well sell the F35 to the Russians and train them as well

[allendale]

As long as the neo cons are able to maintain the fiction that NATO is in the best interests of the American people and that countries like Turkey, who did all they could to establish and aid ISIS, are real American allies, the security of the United States is at risk. Enough human and material treasure has been squandered and sacrificed futilely. The time has long passed for a major reassessment of America’s true interests and needs.

[dfwgator]

Kick ‘em out!

[mac_truck]

Erdogan fears his own air force, which is why he wants the S-400s.

[Midwesterner53]

Those F 35s turned over but still here must not be allowed to leave the US. Under no circumstances can they be flown out of the country.

[NorseViking]

I am somehow familiar with what were and still the Turkish thoughts behind the deal.

The talk is that they wanted the US system first but it was denied so they went for the alternative. They understand the deal might have consequences regarding procurement of F-35s but their view that US is seeking for any reason to kick them out of the program anyway allegedly because Israel wants to stay a single F-35 user in the region.

They also argue in the military circles that F-35 is inferior to F-16 anyway so losing it is not that big a deal.

Overall they view abandoning S-400 would make the government look like an American puppet to both domestic hardliners and neighbors, primarily Russia and Israel. They also afraid Russia would perceive them as weak and dependent on US as a result and might create different obstacles in trade and Israel would see there is leverage and would try to influence US to push on Turkey on other issues too.

That is how they see it and why the deal is likely to happen.

[Lurkinanloomin]

It means we should kick Islamist Turkey out of NATO.

[jimwatx]

If our CIA wasn’t so incomptent the coup against Erdogan would have been successful and we wouldn’t be facing these choices now. Erdogan continues trading with Iran violating sanctions and is cozying up to Russia. Either we take him out or we’re gonna have to kick Turkey out of NATO.