Turkish Defense Minister Yaşar Güler has said that the country is considering the purchase of French-Italian SAMP/T and US-made Patriot air defense systems as part of efforts to strengthen its national air and missile defense capabilities.

Güler confirmed that Ankara is evaluating all available options to reinforce its air defense network, The Caspian Post reports via SavunmaSanayiST.com.

"All options are being considered, including the acquisition of SAMP/T and Patriot air defense systems," the defense minister said.

The announcement comes after Italy's SAMP/T system was deployed to Konya Air Base in June as part of a NATO mission to enhance the protection of allied airspace. During the same period, a Patriot missile defense system was relocated from Germany to Malatya Province, home to NATO's Kürecik missile defense radar base.

NATO said the deployments were intended to strengthen Türkiye's air defenses amid heightened tensions in the Middle East.

At the same time, Türkiye is continuing work on its indigenous Steel Dome air defense project, a multi-layered system announced in 2025. The network is expected to combine short-range, medium-range, and long-range air defense systems with laser-based defense technology, creating an integrated shield against a wide range of aerial threats.