NATO said it had intercepted the first ballistic missile fired from Iran toward Turkey last week in less than 10 minutes, as the alliance raised its missile defense posture and Turkey deployed a Patriot air defense system to bolster protection of its airspace amid the Iran conflict.
Col. Martin O’Donnell, spokesperson for NATO’s Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE), said the alliance’s missile defense network detected, tracked, intercepted and destroyed the missile after it crossed Iraqi and Syrian airspace on its way to Turkey.
“Detection, tracking, interception and destruction. The entire process took less than 10 minutes,” O’Donnell said in remarks to Turkish journalist Güldener Sonumut published by Milliyet, referring to the first interception over Hatay on March 4.
O’Donnell said NATO air defenses had been activated twice in response to ballistic missile threats approaching Turkey.
“In the two incidents involving Turkey [Monday] and last week, NATO managed this perfectly,” he said.
Open-source reports suggest two missiles were intercepted by a US Navy destroyer in the eastern Mediterranean using an SM-3 interceptor, although NATO has not officially confirmed the platform involved.
Debris from one of the intercepts fell near the town of Dörtyol in Hatay province in southern Turkey, according to Turkish media reports. Local reports said the debris likely came from the interceptor missile rather than the incoming projectile.
Iranian authorities denied launching missiles toward Turkey and said they respect Turkish sovereignty.
NATO said it has increased its ballistic missile defense posture following the incidents.
Turkey’s defense ministry said on Tuesday that a Patriot air defense system had been deployed to Malatya and was being prepared for operational readiness to help protect Turkish airspace. The province hosts the Kürecik early warning radar, part of NATO’s ballistic missile defense architecture.
The deployment followed two recent missile incidents involving Turkish airspace during the Iran conflict, including one on Monday that Turkish officials said was intercepted by NATO assets over the eastern Mediterranean before debris fell in Gaziantep province.
O’Donnell said NATO continues to adjust its defense posture when threats emerge and emphasized that the alliance maintains what it describes as a “360-degree” approach to security.
He also praised Turkey’s military capabilities, saying the Turkish Armed Forces are “very, very incredibly capable” and that Turkish air defense systems operate fully integrated with NATO’s missile defense network.
“Whether it is your F-16s or Turkey’s own air and missile defense capabilities, they are all currently engaged,” he said.
Analysts say launches may have tested NATO defenses
Some analysts said the launches may have been intended to test NATO air defenses protecting key installations in Turkey.
A report by Middle East Eye, citing Turkish sources, said the missiles may have been part of an attempt to test NATO response capabilities around İncirlik Air Base in southern Turkey and the Kürecik radar installation.
Hurşit Dingil, an expert on Iran’s military capabilities at the Ankara-based Center for Area Studies, said open-source military scenarios suggested the missiles may have been launched from Iran’s Damghan missile base in Semnan province.
Defense analyst Arda Mevlütoğlu said Iranian strikes in the Gulf had previously targeted US radar, communications and air defense systems, suggesting that the NATO early warning radar at Kürecik could also be seen as a potential target.
Retired air force intelligence chief Gürsel Tokmakoğlu said Patriot air defense systems recently deployed near Malatya could extend coverage over eastern Turkey and the eastern Mediterranean and operate with NATO assets to intercept ballistic missiles.