On May 28, Reuters reported that U.S. officials are considering suspending F-35 training for Turkish pilots as Turkey continues to move forward with its plans to purchase Russia’s S-400 and and missile defense system. The delivery of F-35 equipment to Turkey was previously halted in late March due to U.S. objection to the planned purchase....
On May 18, Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan announced that Turkey will work with Russia to produce the S-500 air and missile defense system. Turkey’s purchase of the S-400 system has already strained U.S.-Turkey relations due to concerns that the program could compromise F-35 aircraft. Deliveries of F-35-related equipment to Turkey have been suspended as the...
As shown in footage released on December 20, Turkey has conducted its first long-range test fire of the Bora short-range ballistic missile (SRBM). According to Turkish Defense Industry Chief Executive İsmail Demir, the test was successful, with the Bora missile striking a sea-based target 280 km away. The Bora missile project was first publicly announced...
On December 18, the U.S. State Department approved a potential $3.5 billion sale of Patriot air defenses to Turkey. The deal would include 80 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM) and 60 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, as well as four AN/MPQ-65 radars and other related equipment. According to an unnamed State Department spokesperson,...
On November 2, Turkish companies Rokestan and Aselsan signed a deal to jointly manufacture the indigenously developed Atmaca antiship cruise missile. The Atmaca missile is part of Turkey’s MILGEM National Ship project which will replace older foreign-made ships with a new Turkish-built fleet of corvettes and frigates outfitted with Turkish systems. The Atmaca has a...
On October 31, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced the creation of the National Long Range Regional Air Defense System (SIPER) at the opening ceremony of National Technology Development and Infrastructure. According to President Erdogan, Turkey has made significant advancements in high-resolution observation, satellite technology, and information support systems. Also unveiled at the ceremony were...
On August 21, Russia’s Interfax newswire reported that Turkey will receive the S-400 Triumf air defense system from Russia in 2019 instead of 2020, as initially announced last year. Turkey will be the only NATO state to acquire the system. The deal was first announced in September 2017, and the U.S. stated in June that...
On July 16, Acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs Tina Kaidanow announced that the United States was discussing with Turkey potentially selling the MIM-104 Patriot missile system to the state. This comes as Turkey plans to purchase the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, a deal first announced in September 2017. U.S....
On July 10, Turkey’s Undersecretary for Defense Industries tweeted that the KHAN advanced long-range surface-to-surface missile system—sometimes referred to as the Bora—is set to begin acceptance trials. The KHAN is an artillery missile system armed with a 470 kg high explosive (HE) fragmentation warhead and is designed to engage enemy personnel, armored vehicles, and other...
On June 26, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Dr. A. Wess Mitchell stated that the United States would sanction Turkey under Section 231 of the CAATSA should Turkey purchase the S-400 missile system from Russia. In his testimony before a Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on U.S. foreign policy in Europe, Secretary...
