Turkey shelves missile defense due to financial crisis

ANKARA — Turkey's plans to launch a missile defense program appears to be the latest casualty of the nation's fiscal crisis.

Turkish sources said the military has shelved plans to procure systems meant to serve as the basis of a theater ballistic missile program. The issue of missile defense has been discussed over the last two years with the United States.

Ankara has pressed the United States to join the Arrow anti-missile program. The program is a joint effort of Israel and the United States and the Jewish state has deployed its first operational battery.

U.S. officials have been wary of Turkey's request. But Pentagon officials have agreed to explore Turkish participation in international programs sponsored by the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization. Another prospect was the sale of the PAC-3 anti-missile system to Ankara.

But Turkish sources said the military has shelved plans for procurement over the next year as a result of February's fiscal crisis. Last month, the military said it was postponing 32 projects worth $19.5 billion. The projects were not specified.

The military's General Staff is scheduled to meet to review procurement plans and ratify proposals for spending cuts. The list of suspended projects include the upgrade of the Leopard-1 tank, coproduction of a main battle tank, procurement of a spy satellite, heavy-lift helicopters and naval vessels.

Turkey is expected to remain in international programs for weapons development. These include the U.S.-sponsored Joint Strike Fighter program and the production of the A400M transport aircraft.