ANKARA, Sept. 12 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has signed a deal with Russia to buy S-400 missile defense systems in its first major weapons purchase from Moscow, the Hurriyet daily reported on Tuesday.
The purchase of the missile systems from a non-NATO supplier will raise concerns in the West over their compatibility with the alliance's equipment, the report said.
It added the accord for the surface-to-air missile defense batteries is Ankara's most significant pact with a non-NATO supplier.
"Signatures have been made for the purchase of S-400s from Russia. A deposit has also been paid as far as I know," Erdogan said in comments published in Hurriyet daily and other newspapers.
"Putin and myself are determined on this issue," he told journalists.
Erdogan said Turkey was free to make military acquisitions based on its defense needs.
