Paving way to test S-400 system ... Ankara bans airspace off Black Sea

On Friday, Turkey issued notices banning entry to the airspace and waters off the Black Sea, apparently to allow launching weapons tests, including units of the Russian S-400 missile defense system, a week after they were transferred to the region, according to Reuters.

While Ankara has already tested the surface-to-air missile system last year, further exercises can inflame tensions with the United States, its NATO partner, which has strongly opposed buying the system from Moscow because this system threatens the Alliance's defense systems.

Washington responded last year by halting Turkey's participation in the F-35 program and threatening to impose sanctions, and the lira remains near its lowest level ever since videos in local newspapers last week showed the S-400s being moved north from locations near Ankara.

The Turkish airspace notice prohibits flying in an area near Sinop coastal city to conduct a radar test and possibly launch live fire for six hours on October 16.

This week, Turkey issued a naval notice for training on shooting and two other military training notices.

The notices stated that shooting training will take place on October 16 and 17.

Turkey signed the S-400 deal with Russia in 2017, and began receiving the first 4 missile batteries worth $ 2.5 billion in July last year, and Ankara has conducted radar tests before, but the fire launch test will be the first.

After videos of the S-400s emerged and reports of the planned tests published, last week two U.S. senators again called on President Donald Trump's administration to impose sanctions on Turkey.

D.H