NATO is preparing to deploy Patriot air defense missile system near Turkish-Syrian border 0811122

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Defense News - Turkey

 
 
Thursday, November 8, 2012, 10:18 AM
 
NATO is preparing to deploy Patriot air defense missile system near the Turkish-Syrian border.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, that NATO is preparing to give Turkey Patriot missiles for deployment along the Turkish-Syrian border, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported on its website.
     
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said on Wednesday, November 7, 2012, that NATO is preparing to give Turkey Patriot missiles for deployment along the Turkish-Syrian border, local newspaper Today's Zaman reported on its website.
U.S. Army Patriot launcher vehicle at "Le Bourget" Aviation and Aerospace Air Show in Paris, France.
     

Davutoglu made the remarks in Brussels following earlier statements by some other Turkish officials that Turkey is in talks with the United States and NATO over the deployment of Patriot missiles along its border with Syria.

Turkey considers Patriot missiles on its territories as a security precaution against a potential military offensive by Syria, as Syrian shelling on Turkish southern border has prompted mounting tensions between the two countries.

Turkey and the United States are considering deploying Patriot missiles in Turkish southern Kilis province, according to the report.

In the past, Turkey requested the deployment of Patriot missile defense systems on its territory twice in the context of battles in Iraq, respectively in the early 1990s and the 2000s.

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. Patriot uses an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high performance radar systems.
This air defence missile system is manufactured by the American Company Raytheon.

Patriot systems have been sold to Taiwan, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Spain. Poland hosts training rotations of a battery of U.S. Patriot launchers. The Republic of Korea also purchased several second-hand Patriot systems from Germany.