Турция планирует обзавестись баллистическими ракетами дальностью до 2500 км

English.news.cn
2012-02-01 17:03:01

ANKARA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) — Turkey aims to build ballistic missiles with a range of 2,500 kilometers within the next two years, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet Daily News reported on Wednesday.

The decision was made at a recent meeting of the High Board of Technology and in line with a request from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the newspaper quoted Professor Yucel Altnbasak, head of Turkey's State Scientific Research Institute (TUBITAK) as saying.

Altinbasak said TUBITAK had already produced and delivered a missile with a range of 500 kilometers to the Turkish military and added that the missile had displayed a mere five-meter deviation from its target in field tests.

In the next phase of the program this year, TUBITAK will first test the 1,500-kilometer missile before heading for the final goal of 2,500 kilometers, said Altinbasak, adding that building missiles with a range of 2,500 kilometers was a "realistic target for Turkey."

But analysts remain uncertain whether the country needs or can even achieve such a capability, said the report.

Turkey's move may mark a change in the threats and security design perceptions, Hurriyet quoted a Middle East political expert as saying.

"Why would the Turks need these missiles? Where will they use them? Against which threats? It is also intriguing that Turkey, which seeks a modern air force with deterrent firepower, is going along the path many rogue states with no modern air force capabilities have gone," the specialist said.
Editor: Deng Shasha