The Patriot surface-to-air system was deployed to Turkey as part of a NATO mission to counter the alleged threat from Syria.
“They will be redeployed to the US for critical modernization upgrades that will ensure the US missile defense force remains capable of countering evolving global threats and protecting Allies and partners, including Turkey,” a joint Turkish-US statement said.
Just last week, Germany announced its decision to withdraw the Patriot missile complexes from the Turkish border, as well as to relocate some 260 soldiers from the mission area.
The United States, the Netherlands and Germany have provided a total of six Patriots batteries along the Turkish border with Syria.
Originally used as an anti-aircraft missile, Patriots today are used to defend airspace by detecting and destroying incoming missiles. NATO deployed Patriot missiles in Turkey during the 1991 Gulf war and in 2003 during the Iraqi conflict.
