Turkey approves missile defense purchase

ISN SECURITY WATCH (Thurs, 23 February: 11.06 CET) – Turkey has revealed plans to allocated some US$800 million for the creation of a national air defense plan and the purchase of four air defense systems, news agencies reported.

In accordance with the plan, Turkey will build medium- to long-range air defense systems to protect strategic locations against missile threats.

Turkey said it would choose from US-made Patriot systems, Russia’s S-300 (Favorit) complexes, and American-Israeli Arrow-2 systems, Turkish media reported.

According to New Anatolian news agency, Turkey fears that the current crisis between the US, Israel, some European countries, and Iran over the latter's nuclear program, could escalate.

The news agency suggested that the possibility of a US operation against Iran was increasing and that Turkey must move quickly to ensure its protection.

Locally, Turkey is planning a US$250 modernization program for C-130 transport aircraft, an electronic war tactics education center, and an electronic war simulation center.

During the Gulf War in 1990-1991, the US gave Turkey two Patriot air defense systems, which were subsequently dismantled.