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Turkey tests mid-range air defense missile

Xinhua, December 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Turkey launched a new medium-altitude air defense missile earlier this month, state-run Anadolu Agency reported Thursday.

Turkish Defense Ministry announced in a statement that the Hisar-O, produced in Turkey under a project to meet the Land Forces Command's air defense needs, was launched on Dec. 3 in Aksaray, central Turkey.

"Turkey has to achieve and develop critical technologies in both air and missile defense systems," said Defense Minister Fikri Isik, who witnessed the missile test.

Turkey's long-range air and missile defense systems could act as a deterrent force in the region, he added.

Hisar's radar, command control, fire control and missile systems are developed by local Roketsan and Aselsan, the leading Turkish defense firms.

The medium-altitude air defense missiles' targets are military aircraft, helicopters, navigation missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, with a maximum range of 25 km, according to Roketsan's statement.

The Hisar-O's first unarmed test was in 2014 in Aksaray.

T Hisar-A, a low-attitude version of the defense system, was initiated in 2011 and is expected to be delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces by 2020. Endit