Turkey, France, Italy to cooperate on missile system

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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Turkey has signed an agreement with fellow NATO members France and Italy to develop its national missile defense systems, the Turkish Defense Minister said on July 14.      

Speaking at a reception for Bastille Day at the French Embassy in Ankara, Defense Minister Fikri Işık said Turkish companies will work with the Italian-French consortium Eurosam. 
     
Işık described the move as one of the most concrete developments of Turkey’s alliance in the defense industry.
      
On July 4, Işık announced that Ankara and Moscow had agreed on the “technical issues” relating to the purchase of a Russian missile system.      

“All technical issues, both by the Russian side and the Turkish side, are over,” he said in an interview with state-run broadcaster TRT Haber. 

“Now it is time for the final decision,” he added. 
  
“Now, we are continuing works on the financial aspects. I think we will bring this to a close in the coming days,” he said. 
      
Russian presidential aide Vladimir Kozhin said last week that Moscow and Ankara had agreed on the delivery of S-400 mobile systems, while adding that Kremlin had not approved a loan for the deal.  
    
He said Russia saw “no obstacles” in providing missiles to a NATO member.
      
The S-400 system was introduced in 2007 and can carry three types of missiles capable of destroying ground and air targets, including ballistic and cruise missiles.      

It can track and engage up to 300 targets simultaneously and has an altitude ceiling of 27 kilometers (17 miles).