Turkey is contemplating buying the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) to face multiple threats, according to a defense official.
"We are facing a multitude of threats and may not have the luxury to wait for several years before an indigenous development program materializes." A senior Turkish security official told Defense News.
The air defense missile system is developed by the Germany, Italy and the United States.
Turkey had previously sought to buy its first long-range air/anti-missile defense system from a Chinese contractor, much to the consternation of western arms contractors, but later decided against it.
"Shifting geopolitical balances in the region dictate that a system like MEADS may earn a priority tag in Ankara," the official added.
Following Turkey's shooting down of a Russian Su-24 warplane over its border with Syria last November Russia has substantially beefed up air defense assets in Syria, bringing in long-range S-400 missile defense systems as well as advanced Su-35 Flanker air superiority jet fighters.
The MEADS system is a hi-tech mobile surface-to-air missile developed to gradually replace the Patriot missile. Like the Russian S-400 it can defend against a variety of air-borne threats, from bombers to cruise missiles and rockets.
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