S-300, Tor SAMs to Challenge Turkish Air Force Fighter in Training

Turkey is planning to buy elements of S-300 systems from Ukraine and Belarus to deploy them in its electronic combat simulation center, to be used for evaluation of the EW systems operational with TUAF F-16 fighters. During these tests those systems will be jammed, enabling Turkey to develop effective countermeasures and tactics. According to the Turkish daily Today's Zaman, the decision to buy former Soviet-designated SA-12 (300V version) and SA-10 (S-300) missile systems, as well as SA-15 TOR short and medium-range systems, at a cost of around $100 million, was approved in July 2008.

This acquisition is separate from a planned procurement of a squadron of 12 missile defense systems, under a planned $4 billion program launched in 2007. Turkey is considering the S-300, a US proposal offering combined air and missile defense system comprising Patriot PAC-3 and PAC-2 missiles, an Israeli bid offering the Arrow missile system and Chinese HQ-9, considered to be a Chinese copy of the an earlier Russian S-300PMU missile system. Russia is also offering Turkey its most advanced missile defense system, the S-400/SA-21 Triumf.

Turkey established an Electronic Warfare Training Field (EHTS) at the air combat training center opened in 2001 near the central Anatolian town of Konya, some 250 kilometers from Ankara, The facility provides Turkish and allied air forces realistic air combat and ground attack training. Evaluation of Russian made Tor and S-300 air defense systems will provide Turkey with information about the potential capabilities of these weapons, currently operated by Greek and Cypriot air defenses. It will also provide an instrumental insight into the capabilities of the latest air defense weapons potentially encountered by allied air forces in the future.