Russia, Turkey can jointly develop new missile and air defense complex - Rosoboronexport
MOSCOW/ISTANBUL. May 6 (Interfax-AVN) - The Russian Antei-2500 air defense system taking part in the Turkish contest in case of victory may become the foundation for close cooperation between the two countries in air and missile defense, the press service of Rosoboronexport arms trader says.
"In the framework of the Russian-Turkish T-LORAMIS program aimed at cooperating in the sphere of the joint development of air defense weapons Rosoboronexport is offering its partner a unique Antei-2500 air defense system that is also capable of tackling missile defense tasks. If a contract for the procurement of Antei-2500 rocket system is signed, a modern and effective Russian-Turkish air and missile defense system will be developed," a press release of Rosoboronexport received by Interfax-AVN on Monday says.
Commenting on the report, senior advisor of Rosoboronexport CEO Anatoly Aksyonov, heading the company delegation to IDEF-2013 show opening in Istanbul on Tuesday, said that such an approach can be very promising for Turkey.
"The complex should become the foundation for the configuration of the national air and missile defense system of Turkey. We hope that the Turkish side will closely examine Russian proposals and the implementation of the project will give an additional impetus to the development of mutually-beneficial long-term partnership between our unique Eurasian countries," Aksyonov said.
Earlier reports said that Turkey remains on the list of potential buyers of Russia's long-range Antei-2500 air defense system developed and produced by Almaz-Antei concern.
A spokesman for Rosoboronexport, Nikolai Dimidyuk, said that Turkey has demonstrated interest in it for seven years. "They studied the system, visited Russia, visited Almaz-Antei, aspired for a big batch," he added.
Russian Ambassador to Turkey Vladimir Ivanovsky earlier said that the Turkish government extended the term of the contest for the procurement of air defense systems that involves Antei-2500.
"A session of the executive committee of the office of defense industries of Turkey at the beginning of January 2013 chaired by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan decided to prolong the duration of the tender. We will be waiting for the decision of official Ankara," he said to Interfax.
