国际英语新闻:Turkey starts development of long-range air defense system: Erdogan

ANKARA, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has started work for its first indigenous long-range air defense system Siper, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on Wednesday.

The first delivery of the missile system is expected at the end of 2021, Erdogan said at the opening ceremony of the National Technology Development Infrastructures in Ankara.

"We need our own long-range air defense system and we are taking the first step towards that goal today," he said.

The domestic technologies developed by Turkey in the defence industry were extremely vital during recent anti-terror operations, Erdogan added.

Turkey has already developed air defense missiles for low altitude Hisar-A and medium altitude Hisar-O.

Hisar-A and Hisar-O are expected to be in service by 2020 and 2021 respectively.

Turkey also purchased S-400 surface-to-air missiles from Russia last year. The installation of the S-400 missile system will begin in October 2019, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said last week.