S-400 missile systems to be returned to Russia after Aerospace Forces’ operation in Syria is over

YEKATERINBURG, November 25. /TASS/. S-400 missile systems, deployed to Turkey, will be returned to Russia after Russia’s Aerospace Forces’ operation in Syria is over, their sale is not planned, Russian presidential aide on military technical cooperation Vladimir Kozhin said Wednesday. "There’s no talk about sale. It’s our system that will ensure security; when our units return from there, the system will be returned as well. No one has thought or spoken about any sales yet. There are no such plans," Kozhin said. Asked about the interest of the Chinese side in the S-400 systems, he said that "talks are ongoing; we will announce it when contracts are signed." Kozhin added that talks with China on Su-35 aircraft supplies to China are continuing. "This is complex technology, talks are rather difficult. The talk is about the delivery of dozens of machines," he said. Russia’s Aerospace Forces started delivering pinpoint strikes in Syria at facilities of the Islamic State and Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist organizations, which are banned in Russia, on September 30, 2015, on a request from Syrian President Bashar Assad. The air group comprises over 50 aircraft and helicopters, including Sukhoi Su-24M, Su-25SM and state-of-the-art Su-34 aircraft. They were redeployed to the Khmeimim airbase in the province of Latakia. On October 7, four missile ships of the Russian Navy’s Caspian Flotilla fired 26 Kalibr cruise missiles (NATO codename Sizzler) at militants’ facilities in Syria. On October 8, the Syrian army passed to a large-scale offensive. Over 2,000 terrorist facilities have been destroyed by Russian aircraft since the start of the air operation. The Russian Federation does not plan to take part in ground operations in Syria. According to UN statistics, fighting between Syrian government troops and militants has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions since its start in 2011. Read more