Ankara: Turkey is planning to build its own long-range missile defence network by 2010.

The missile shield would include at least eight anti-missile batteries meant to protect strategic targets from theatre-range ballistic missiles.

The project includes an initial off-the-shelf procurement of four batteries in a tender that will be announced in the near future, ANKA news agency said.

According to the report, the four candidates are Russia's S-300, US Patriot PAC-3, Chinese FT-2000 and Israeli Arrow air defence systems, all capable of destroying tactical ballistic missiles.

The Patriot is the world's only combat-proven tactical ballistic missile defence system. It was widely used by US troops during the 1991 Gulf War.

Source : IANS