Moscow, Jul 26 (IANS): Russia has completed delivery of the first shipment of S-400 air defence missile systems to Turkey, according to media reports.

More than 30 special flights have been made to Turkey starting from July 12 with the first batch of elements of the air defence system, Xinhua reported, citing Sputnik news agency.

The two countries are now negotiating to continue cooperation on the issue, including the organization of licensed production of elements of the S-400 systems in Turkey.

"The S-400 supplies have strengthened not only the Turkish air defense network, but also the strategic partnership of our countries," Alexander Mikheev, CEO of Russia's state-run arms exporter Rosoboronexport, was quoted as saying on Thursday.

According to the Turkish Defence Ministry, the deployment of S-400 systems is likely to begin in October.

In 2017, Russia and Turkey signed an agreement worth USD 2.5 billion for two batches of batteries of the S-400 surface-to-air missile system, which is considered the most advanced of its kind in Russia, capable of destroying targets at a distance of up to 400 km and a height of up to 30 km.