The decision to deploy the Patriot systems in Malatya province came in the wake of two Iranian missile attacks targeting Turkey.
Since the start of the US-Israeli war on Iran, Tehran has targeted American radar systems elsewhere in the West Asia, including a strike in Jordan that destroyed an RTX Corporation AN/TPY-2 radar and support equipment. The $300 million radar system was seen as crucial to directing US missile defence batteries in the Persian Gulf to counter attacks from Iran.
The same type of advanced radar is deployed at Kurecik, about 700 kilometres from Iran, according to a US State Department document from 2011, the year when Turkey agreed to host the equipment.
“In addition to the national measures we have implemented, NATO has enhanced air and missile defense measures,” Turkey’s Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Tuesday.
“As part of this framework, a Patriot system is currently in Malatya and is being prepared for operational readiness to support the protection of our airspace.”