Turkey to establish e new missile defense system
YAYINLAMA
GÜNCELLEME
The missile shield to be launched in Malatya by NATO has raised tension in the Russia-Iran-Turkey triangle. After Turkey accepted to host NATO's US-patented missile shield radar system in last year's Lisbon Summit, it was agreed to launch the radars in Malatya. Afterwards, Moscow considered the missile shield as a threat and Tehran said that it would hit Turkey in case of an attack. Thus Turkey got alarmed and initiated a work with regard to its long-range air and missile defense system, because defense systems to be launched in case of an attack will be outside Turkey despite the location of NATO missile shield radars within Malatya. The issue will be discussed during the Supreme Military Council (YAS) to be held next week and a final decision will be made at the Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) which is expected to be convened by the end of month. The SSIK meeting will be chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and attended by Chief of General Staff Gen. Necdet Ozel, Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz and Defense Industry Undersecretary Murad Bayar.