Türkiye Eyes Sale of Its Russian S-400 Air Defense System to Gulf Country to Revive U.S. F-35 Program.

Türkiye could be moving to remove one of the biggest obstacles to restoring defense ties with the United States by exploring the sale of its Russian-made S-400 Triumf air defense missile systems to a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member. Reported by the Turkish daily Hürriyet, the proposal could reopen discussions on Ankara's long-standing effort to rejoin the U.S. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II program while accelerating its transition toward a NATO-compatible air defense architecture.

Because the S-400 systems have never entered operational service, their potential transfer would represent a strategic realignment rather than the loss of an active military capability. If completed, the move could reduce tensions with Washington, improve NATO interoperability, and strengthen Türkiye's shift toward Western air and missile defense technologies.

Related Topic: Türkiye restarts F-35 fighter jet negotiations with US while refusing to give up Russian S-400 missile system

A Russian Armed Forces S-400 Triumf long-range air defense missile launcher. Turkey's reported plans to transfer its non-operational S-400 systems to a Gulf state have renewed attention on the future of the Russian-made air defense system and Ankara's defense relations with NATO. (Picture source: Army Recognition Group)

The report emerged shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump indicated, following discussions with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during the NATO Summit, that his administration would consider lifting sanctions imposed on Turkey under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and was open to discussing Ankara's eventual return to the U.S. F-35 fighter jet program if the Russian S-400 air defense missile system issue could be satisfactorily resolved. Although no formal policy change has been announced yet, Trump's remarks represent the clearest indication to date that Washington may be prepared to revisit one of the most contentious defense disputes between the two NATO allies.

Russia has also confirmed that discussions are taking place regarding the future of the S-400 systems. Speaking to Russian media, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the issue as "extremely sensitive" and acknowledged that Russia remains in contact with the Turkish authorities regarding the possible transfer. While Peskov declined to identify any prospective buyer, his remarks indicate that Moscow is directly involved in evaluating any re-export proposal, as Russian approval would be required under the original export agreement.

Türkiye's acquisition of the S-400 from Russia in 2017 triggered one of NATO's most significant defense crises in recent years. Deliveries began in July 2019 despite repeated warnings from Washington that operating the Russian-made strategic air defense system alongside the F-35 could expose sensitive information about the aircraft's stealth characteristics, sensor fusion capabilities, and electronic warfare systems. In response, the United States removed Turkey from the multinational F-35 program and imposed CAATSA sanctions on Turkey's Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), effectively freezing major areas of bilateral defense cooperation.

The supply of the main components of Russian-made S-400 Triumph air defense weapons to Türkiye.

Although Türkiye accepted delivery of the S-400 batteries, the systems have never entered operational service. Ankara has deliberately refrained from deploying them operationally, preserving strategic flexibility while continuing diplomatic efforts to restore defense relations with Washington. A resale to a third country would provide Turkey with a politically acceptable solution that removes the principal source of friction with the United States without formally canceling the original contract with Russia.

The identity of the prospective buyer has not been officially disclosed, but speculation has centered on the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman.

Among these countries, the United Arab Emirates appears to be one of the most credible candidates. Abu Dhabi has pursued a diversified procurement strategy, maintaining close defense cooperation with the United States and Europe while simultaneously expanding partnerships with Asian defense suppliers. Although the UAE previously sought to acquire the F-35, negotiations stalled, prompting the country to explore alternative options to strengthen its integrated air and missile defense capabilities.

Saudi Arabia has also expressed interest in the Russian S-400 air defense system in previous years while continuing to invest heavily in Patriot PAC-3 and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems supplied by the United States. However, introducing a Russian long-range air defense system into an architecture built around Western command-and-control networks would present significant interoperability and political challenges. Kuwait and Bahrain remain deeply integrated into the U.S. security framework, while Qatar already operates Patriot systems. Oman, which traditionally pursues a balanced foreign policy, could theoretically enjoy greater diplomatic flexibility, although there is currently no indication that Muscat intends to acquire the Russian system.

Any transfer would require formal approval from Moscow. Russian defense export agreements generally prohibit the re-export of major weapon systems without the original supplier's consent. Beyond the legal aspect, Russia would also remain responsible for technical assistance, maintenance, spare parts and operator training, making its participation indispensable for any future transaction.

The reported negotiations also coincide with renewed discussions regarding Türkiye's future long-range air and missile defense architecture. Ankara has resumed talks with France and Italy on the possible acquisition and co-production of the SAMP/T NG (New Generation) air defense system, developed by the Eurosam consortium, which brings together MBDA France, MBDA Italy, and Thales. Unlike the S-400, the SAMP/T NG is fully interoperable with NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defense architecture and is designed to counter advanced aircraft, cruise missiles, and ballistic missile threats.

The SAMP/T NG (New Generation) air and missile defense system developed by the Eurosam consortium is being considered by Turkey as a potential NATO-interoperable replacement for its Russian-made S-400 air defense systems. (Source Video:French moD)

For Türkiye, acquiring the SAMP/T NG would offer several strategic advantages beyond simply replacing the Russian S-400 air defense system. The program includes industrial cooperation and technology transfer opportunities that support Ankara's objective of strengthening its domestic defense industry while restoring full interoperability with NATO allies. Replacing the politically controversial Russian system with a European NATO-compatible solution would also remove one of Washington's principal objections to restoring broader defense-industrial cooperation.

Nevertheless, disposing of the S-400 alone may not automatically restore Türkiye's participation in the F-35 program. Although President Trump has expressed support for reconsidering the issue, U.S. legislation adopted after Türkiye's acquisition of the S-400 remains in force, and any reversal would likely face close scrutiny in Congress. Lawmakers have consistently argued that Türkiye must permanently eliminate the risks associated with the Russian system before any return to the F-35 program can be considered.

Should the reported transfer proceed, it would represent the first known resale of an S-400 system by an export customer, establishing a significant precedent for future Russian arms exports. More importantly, it would signal Türkiye's broader effort to rebalance its strategic partnerships by reducing dependence on Russian strategic systems while strengthening defense cooperation with the United States and European NATO partners.

For the Gulf states, acquiring the S-400 would also have far-reaching implications. While the system remains one of the world's most capable long-range air defense platforms against aircraft, cruise missiles, and selected ballistic missile threats, integrating it into predominantly Western command-and-control networks would require complex technical solutions and could complicate defense cooperation with Washington. Any prospective buyer would therefore have to balance the operational advantages of the Russian system against the diplomatic and interoperability challenges of integrating it into a Western-oriented defense architecture.

From an Army Recognition perspective, the reported negotiations reflect more than a potential arms transfer. They illustrate Türkiye's strategic effort to reposition itself within NATO's defense ecosystem while preserving its regional influence and defense-industrial ambitions. If Ankara succeeds in replacing the Russian S-400 air defense system with the SAMP/T NG while reopening the path to the F-35 program, it would mark a major shift in Turkish defense policy and could significantly influence the future balance between Russian and Western defense technologies in both NATO and the Middle East.

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Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.