Azernews.Az

Turkey has ordered 117 air-to-air Sidewinder missiles from the U.S., Trend news agency reported referring to CNN Turk TV channel on Wednesday.

It is reported that the Turkish Ministry of Defense's undersecretary for the defense industry has signed an initial agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense.

The acquisition of the missiles will cost Turkey $140 million. According to CNN Turk, the issue of selling Sidewinder missiles to Turkey is under consideration by Congress and in case of a positive response, Turkey will receive the first batch of missiles in the coming months.

The TV channel reported that the purchase can be linked to preparedness measures against possible aggression from Syria.

The AIM-9 Sidewinder is an American air-to-air guided missile with an infrared homing head. The missile entered U.S. Navy service in 1956, becoming the world's first effective guided air-to-air missile. After many upgrades, it still remains in active service with many air forces.

The Sidewinder missile is named such due to the use of the principle of radiant heat during target search, just like the American horned rattlesnake sidewinder does.

As reported earlier, Turkey is to receive 6 batteries of Patriot missiles from NATO. They are to be provided by Germany, the Netherlands and the U.S.

In the second half of November, Turkey requested Patriot missiles from NATO to protect against a possible air attack by Syria.

The Syrian army periodically bombs border areas with Turkey. In October, as a result of another attack conducted by Syrian Air Forces, six Turkish citizens were killed.