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Many countries around the world are seeking to have a missile defense system capable of improving their security, in light of the intense competition between the American Patriot system and the Russian S-400.
A report published by the agency “Bloomberg” that Turkey plans to carry out a comprehensive test of the Russian defense system “S-400” next week ignited the ire of the United States of America, which calls for the adoption of dissuasive sanctions against Ankara for their insistence on adopting Russian weapons that pose a threat to the Northern Alliance. Atlantic, “NATO”.
According to what “Bloomberg” quoted from sources it described as “informed”, the Turkish test will include the equipment and preparation of Turkish soldiers in the Black Sea city of Sinop, and the battery of the Russian system will not work.
The “S-400” deal raises the concern of NATO members, who fear that Moscow will gather intelligence on the alliance’s capabilities, specifically the F-35 fighter jet manufactured by “Lockheed Martin.”
The head of the Intelligence Committee of the United States House of Representatives, Adam Schiff, highlighted on Wednesday the need for the United States to treat Ankara firmly, asking in a tweet on Twitter if it is possible to consider Turkey as a true ally. from the United States, and asking you to confront it more firmly from now on.
On the other hand, several senators presented a proposal to the Trump administration, asking it to impose sanctions on Ankara as a result of its policies, especially its intention to conduct experiments on the S-400 system.
Democratic Senators Chris Van Hollen and Republican James Lancford called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to impose sanctions on Turkey in accordance with US law should Ankara proceed to implement the test of this missile system.
Turkey is between two fires
Since the announcement of its purchase of the “S-400” system in 2017, Turkey has lived between two fires. With this, he enraged the United States of America and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization “NATO” on the one hand, and he also fears the anger of the “Russian bear” if he thinks of divulging the secrets of this advanced weapon or sell it to destinations that Moscow does not want to receive.
Turkey recently found itself in a crisis of the Russian missile system. In July, the Russian news agency “Interfax” attributed to Maria Vorobyova, spokeswoman for the Russian Federal Authority for Military-Technical Cooperation, that Ankara cannot re-export Russia’s S-400 anti-missile defense system. Without permission from Moscow.
On the other hand, the United States says that Turkey risks falling under US sanctions if the Russian system is deployed, because it endangers US fighters, as well as conflicts with NATO defense systems.
And the “S-400” divides the United States, which has repeatedly warned Turkey not to proceed with the operation of the system if it is willing to acquire the US “Patriot” system.
The US Congress is pushing for sanctions to be imposed on Turkey, due to the system, but the US president rejects this effort, saying it will lead to closer ties between Ankara and Moscow.
Last June, Trump appeared to be looking for excuses for Turkey’s purchase of the Russian defense system, saying the Turks would not have turned to Russia if the administration of former President Barack Obama had not refused to sell Patriot batteries.
Until now, Trump has refrained from using the Law Against America’s Adversaries, known as the “Katsa,” US legislation that allows punishing those who deal with Washington’s enemies.
In return, a Republican-dominated Senate committee passed a resolution that could tighten the screws on Turkey, freezing Ankara’s assets in the United States, as well as imposing restrictions on visas and loans.
The United States had resorted to the weapon of sanctions against Ankara, when Turkey arrested the American priest, Andrew Bronson, after accusations related to terrorism, and Turkey was forced to release him at the end of the day, to avoid the consequences, especially since the Washington’s measures inflicted heavy losses on the local currency, the lira.
“Patriot” and “S-400”, which is stronger?
The American “Patriot” and the Russian “S-400”, which are designed to counter air targets, including ballistic missiles, fighter jets and drones, are among the most prominent air defense systems.
As for radar and reconnaissance systems that are used for early warning purposes, and to track targets and direct missiles towards them, the Russian system is distinguished by its radar covering a circle with a diameter of 600 km, while the Patriot radar covers a radius of 150 km.
Due to the difference in the coverage area of the two radars, the S-400 system can detect 300 targets simultaneously, while the Patriot can only detect 125 targets.
Of these detected targets, the S-400 is capable of hitting 36 of them simultaneously, while the Patriot only destroys 9 targets at a time.
In wars, the military is in a race against time, any missile could kill their lives or harm their country, and here appears the importance of speed in preparing the air system for launch, this system in the S- 400 needs only 5 minutes to prepare, while the Patriot needs 25 minutes.
This is for readiness, as well as the missile’s launch speed toward the enemy target once the system is ready. Here the S-400 system is distinguished, whose missiles are ready for launch in just 10 seconds, a difference of 5 seconds from the American system.
Flexibility is also an important factor in air defense systems, due to the diversity of hostile objects, and this is what distinguishes the Russian system, which can launch missiles at an angle of 90 degrees, in front of the Patriot, and does not exceed the launch angle of 38 degrees.
In terms of the number of missiles that can be loaded into the two systems, the S-400 carries 32 missiles, double that of the 16 Patriots.
In terms of altitude, the S-400 can hit targets at altitudes ranging from 10 meters to 27 kilometers, as opposed to 60 meters to 24 kilometers for the Patriots.
This may be the reason why Washington is opposed to Turkey’s purchase of the S-400, as it fears the possibility of discovering the Russian F-35 system and affecting NATO systems.
