The Pentagon on Tuesday, announced that the United States (US) state department has approved a $3.5 billion sale of missile defence system and Patriot air to the country Turkey. After notifying the US congress about the certification, the Pentagon announced the measure taken by the US.
According to news reports, the defence security cooperation agency said that the state department has approved to provide Turkey a sale of 80 patriot guidance-enhances missiles and about 60 other missiles to Ankara, including the related equipment too, along with the radar sets, launching stations and also engagement control stations.
Nevertheless, the state department has, earlier this year, said that the US is working NATO ally Turkey over to keep ongoing possible process of sale of Raytheon Co Patriot missile defence system to Turkey, in order to avoid Turkish purchase of Russian-owed S-400 defence air system.
But however, in 2017, during Turkey’s buying selection process, Ankara has passed over the US Patriot defence system and then first chose a Chinese defence system before purchasing the Russian-made S-400 defence system.
NATO and the US officials has earlier repeatedly warned Ankara over its purchase of Russian defence system and said the Russian system could not be integrated into NATO air and missile defence system and also that its buying S-400 defence system would endangered Turkey’s buying of Lockhead Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets and the possible outcome would be Washington imposing sanctions over Turkey.
The US congress has been notified about the certification alerts over the sale of its defence system to a foreign country which has been approved, but however, no further details of contract signed or negotiations has been yet concluded.