Turkey says delivery of Russian S-400 systems to start next week

The Turkish defense industry chief said on Thursday that the delivery of Russia's S-400 air defense systems to Turkey will start next week.

"I will not tell the exact date now, but you will see in the second week of July," Ismail Demir, president of Turkish Defense Industries, was quoted by private broadcaster NTV as saying.

Regarding the deployment of the S-400 air defense system, he said there is no plan to change the equation in the eastern Mediterranean by the S-400s.

"However, we can use any weapon in our hand anywhere in Turkey whenever necessary," Demir added.

The U.S. potential sanctions will only lead to a more powerful and robust of our defense industry in the future, the Turkish defense industry chief noted.

Washington has repeatedly threatened to halt Turkey's purchase of F-35 fighters if it goes ahead with the delivery of the S-400s.

However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan insisted that it is "a done deal," saying Ankara will not step back "no matter what the consequences will be."