Missile

Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has said he wants Turkey to remain in the F-35 fighter jet program, but added that Ankara needed to buy the Patriot missile defense system as Washington looks to increase pressure on its NATO ally to drop the purchase of Russia's S-400 defense system.

Romania will create maintenance centres for the Patriot surface-to-air missile systems, National Defence Minister Gabriel Les announced on Thursday. According to him, the creation of the maintenance centres is part of the contract Romania concluded with the US partners, which also provides industrial cooperation regarding the missile system.

The U.S. warned of "grave consequences" on March 9 if Turkey purchases the Russian S-400 missile defense system because it could affect the deal for F-35 fighter jets and the Patriot missile system.

The top US commander for Europe says he would recommend the United States not sell its high-tech F-35 fighter jet to Turkey, if Ankara moves ahead with plans to buy a Russian missile defense system.

Turkey will not change course on buying the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, but the country could also accept a "good offer" on U.S. Patriot missiles, Turkish president said on Feb. 26.

Turkey cannot accept the current criteria of a U.S. proposal for the procurement of the Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, a Turkish official has said, noting that Russia will deliver the first batch of the S-400 air defense systems to Turkey in July. 

The Turkish government must choose between purchasing an advanced Russian missile system or remaining a partner in the US's F-35 fighter jet program, the new head of the Senate Armed Services Committee reportedly told Bloomberg on Friday.

The United States is pulling some of its anti-aircraft and missile batteries out of the Middle East, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sept. 26, citing U.S. military officials.

The United States Department of State has once again warned Turkey against purchase of Russian S-400 anti-ballistic missile defense systems, saying such an action would be against their "policy."

A Japanese delegation with members of Japan's National Diet visited on Tuesday the 99 Deveselu Military Base which hosts the Aegis Ashore anti-missile defence system, the Naval Support Facility (NSF) Deveselu posting on Facebook images of various moments of the visit.