Turkey "aims to develop defense systems of this type primarily by itself. We need technology exchange and joint production. These issues are important to Turkey," he said, adding that Ankara needs to purchase the new weapons at the best price possible.
Ahmet Berat Conkar further noted that Ankara needs to buy a missile defense complex to "develop its own anti-ballistic missile defense system."
A recent rapprochement between Ankara and Moscow has apparently had a positive effect on the S-400 talks.
"Agreements reached during talks between [Russian President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] necessarily promote cooperation. We all know that this is one of the topics discussed at the highest level. In this respect we will work together with all of our partners, including Russia to purchase systems which Turkey requires at the best price," he said.
Turkey has become the latest country interested in purchasing the S-400. On Monday, Rostec CEO Sergei Chemezov said that Russia and Ankara are discussing a possible S-400 deal, with both sides currently focused on the financial aspect of the agreement. A day later, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said that the talks were "successfully moving forward."
The S-400, estimated to cost $400 million per unit, has been in service since April 2007.
Russia is reported to have reached an agreement to deploy the S-400 to China and India. Other potential buyers include Armenia, Belarus, Egypt, Iran, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam.
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