Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated on Wednesday that Ankara was ready to employ S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems purchased from Russia, if the republic was attacked. This reported by TASS.

"The answer to the question about where they will be used is crystal clear. Whoever may attack our country with missiles, they [S-400 systems] will be used. They also say that the S-400s are located in a hangar. They are located where necessary," Erdogan told Turkish journalists aboard his airliner returning from Senegal.

The Turkish leader already stated in July 2019 that Turkey intended to employ the S-400 surface-to-air missile systems, if the country was attacked.

Moscow and Ankara inked a deal in 2017 on the delivery of Russian-made S-400 air defense systems to Turkey, thereby making it the first NATO member to purchase this air defense weapon from Russia.