Washington has repeatedly lashed out at Ankara's purchase of the Russian-made S-400 missile systems, claiming that they are incompatible with NATO security standards and might compromise the operations of the new US fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets.
Last month, Ankara reportedly asked the US to deploy Patriot batteries on Turkey's southern border following an escalation of tensions in Syria's Idlib. Here's a closer look at what could finally become Turkey's missile system of choice given Ankara's recent purchase of the Russian-made S-400 Triumf missile systems.
Ankara's move on the Patriot border deployment will most likely raise many eyebrows given the performance characteristics of these two missile defence systems. The S-400 detects an enemy at a distance of up to 600 kilometres and tracks up to 300 targets simultaneously, while the Patriot operates at a distance of no more than 120 kilometres.
In terms of firing range, the Triumf also gets the better of the Patriot because the figures stand at 250 kilometres and 100 kilometres, respectively. The Russian system is capable of destroying a target moving at a speed of 4,800 metres per second, namely, even hypersonic missiles, something that is not the case with the Patriot, which hits objects flying at a speed of 2,500 metres per second.
What's more, neither a rocket nor a helicopter will escape from the Triumf even at a minimum height, because the missile system will recognise and destroy a target…
