ANKARA, 17 October, 2020, (TON):  According to a news agency “Reuters” A missile has been fired into sky on Turkey’s Black Sea coast where the military was expected to test its Russian-made S-400 defence systems.

On Friday a video was taken in the coastal city of Sinop which shows a narrow column of smoke headed high into the blue sky.

It was widely projected that Turkey will test the system this week, after issuing notices warning vessels and aircraft to avoid the area in the Black Sea.

An outlet (Haber television) close to the Turkish government reported the test on its website. Other Turkish media also carried similar reports.

On the other hand Turkish Defense Minister said it would neither deny nor confirm missile tests.

However the tests of the advanced air defense system could add fuel to tensions between Turkey and the United States. Last year Washington reacted by suspending Turkey from its F-35 jet program and threatens to put sanctions.

On Friday, the US State Department warned Turkey of “potential serious consequences” for its security relationship if it activates the system.

State Department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement that “If confirmed, we would condemn in the strongest terms the S-400 test missile launch as incompatible with Turkey’s responsibilities as a NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States”.

Last year the Turkish military conducted radar tests of the surface-to-air defence system, which is among the world’s most advanced and can spot and track incoming aircraft at medium and long ranges.

Turkey signed the S-400 deal with Russia in 2017. Deliveries of the first four missile batteries, worth $2.5bn, began in July last year.

Turkey had initially said the S-400 would be operational in April but it has since delayed activating the system.

Earlier this month during a visit to Turkey, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterates that the Russian made S-400 system cannot be included into the NATO air and missile defense system.