US Hopes Russia Respects Safety Memorandum After S-400s Deployed in Syria

Washington hopes that Moscow will respect the Russia-US memorandum on flight safety after it deploys S-400 Triumf air defense systems in Syria, a spokesman for the US Embassy in Moscow said Thursday in a statement.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Thursday Russia deployed its S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) missile system to the Khmeimim Air Base in Syria after a Russian Su-24 Fencer bomber was shot inside Syrian airspace by Turkey on Tuesday.

"We are aware of reports that Russia will deploy advanced surface-to-air missile systems to Syria…. We expect that if Russia follows through, it will abide by our Memorandum of Understanding regarding flight safety and not direct this system against Coalition aircraft," Will Stevens said.

In October, US and Russian officials signed a memorandum of understanding over safety procedures for the two countries’ respective air missions in Syria.

The document seeks to prevent air incidents between Russian and US aircraft, including drones, operating in the Syrian airspace.

The S-400 Triumf (SA-21 Growler) is Russia's next-generation air defense system, carrying three different types of missiles capable of destroying aerial targets at short-to-extremely long range.

The S-400 Triumf Mobile Multiple Anti-Aircraft Missile System (AAMS)

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