A Russian Antonov military cargo plane, carrying parts of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, is unloaded after landing at the Murted Air Base in Ankara, Turkey, on July 12, 2019. The first batch of Russian S-400 air defense system was delivered in Turkish capital city of Ankara on Friday, the Turkish Defense Ministry said. (Turkish Defense Ministry/Handout via Xinhua)
ISTANBUL, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that the Russian S-400 air defense system would be fully installed by April 2020.
Speaking at a commemoration event in Istanbul, Erdogan said eight planes carrying parts of the missiles have so far arrived in the country and the others are ready to be deployed.
He noted the installation process has already begun as planned and it is expected to be "fully completed by April 2020."
Turkey's purchase of S-400 missiles from Russia has raised tensions with the United States, but Erdogan recently said U.S. President Donald Trump would most probably find a way of consensus in the dispute.
