Türkiye weighs buying SAMP/T, Patriot air defence systems

Türkiye is considering options to strengthen its air defence capabilities through the potential acquisition of French-Italian SAMP/T surface-to-air missile systems and US-made Patriot systems.

Defence Minister Yaşar Güler said that Ankara is reviewing possible procurement optionsç Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media. 

“All options are being considered, including the acquisition of SAMP-T and Patriot air defence systems,” the minister was quoted as saying by Star newspaper.

Earlier reports indicated that an SAMP/T system belonging to Italy was deployed in June to a Turkish Air Force base in Konya as part of a NATO mission to reinforce allied airspace protection. In the same period, a Patriot system was also redeployed from Germany to Malatya, where NATO’s Kürecik missile defence base is located. NATO officials said the deployments were intended to enhance Türkiye’s airspace defence amid rising tensions in the Middle East.

Meanwhile, Türkiye is also advancing its indigenous multi-layered air defence initiative known as the Steel Dome, which is expected to include four layers: short-range air defence systems, short- and medium-range systems, long-range systems, and laser-based defence capabilities. The project was officially announced in 2025.

By Vafa Guliyeva