Pentagon: S-300 Systems in Syria Have No Impact on US Operations in the Region
Dan Arkin
| 21/11/2018
Archive photo: AP
Russia’s S-300 air defense systems in Syria have no impact on the United States’ operations in the country, US Department of Defense spokesman Eric Pahon told Sputnik News.
However, Pahon cautioned that adding more weapons systems in Syria could only endanger multiple militaries operating in the area and cause potential danger to civilian aircraft transiting the area.
The DoD spokesman said that the Pentagon is working with Congress to help find alternatives to Russia's S-400 air defense systems for Turkey. "We are in diplomatic discussions with Turkey to look for viable alternatives to the S-400,” he told Sputnik. “We are helping them to find alternatives along with Congress to the S-400 purchase."
In December 2017, Ankara signed a loan agreement with Moscow envisaging the delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Turkey. Russia's Rostec state corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov said then that the contract envisaged the delivery of four S-400 battalion-size sets worth $2.5 billion, with 55 percent of the contract sum being covered by Russian loans. On October 25, Akara said that Turkey would begin the deployment of the S-400s in October 2019.
US officials have warned that if Ankara goes ahead with its plans to purchase the S-400 system, the United States could withhold the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey. In addition, the US Congress passed legislation that would block the transfer of F-35 jets.
Archive photo: AP
Russia’s S-300 air defense systems in Syria have no impact on the United States’ operations in the country, US Department of Defense spokesman Eric Pahon told Sputnik News.
However, Pahon cautioned that adding more weapons systems in Syria could only endanger multiple militaries operating in the area and cause potential danger to civilian aircraft transiting the area.
The DoD spokesman said that the Pentagon is working with Congress to help find alternatives to Russia's S-400 air defense systems for Turkey. "We are in diplomatic discussions with Turkey to look for viable alternatives to the S-400,” he told Sputnik. “We are helping them to find alternatives along with Congress to the S-400 purchase."
In December 2017, Ankara signed a loan agreement with Moscow envisaging the delivery of the Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Turkey. Russia's Rostec state corporation CEO Sergey Chemezov said then that the contract envisaged the delivery of four S-400 battalion-size sets worth $2.5 billion, with 55 percent of the contract sum being covered by Russian loans. On October 25, Akara said that Turkey would begin the deployment of the S-400s in October 2019.
US officials have warned that if Ankara goes ahead with its plans to purchase the S-400 system, the United States could withhold the transfer of F-35 jets to Turkey. In addition, the US Congress passed legislation that would block the transfer of F-35 jets.
