Türkiye crosses critical threshold, builds ‘Steel Dome’ air defense system
Türkiye crossed a threshold in the fortification of its air defences and announced the biggest ever one-time spending for a defense project
ANKARA, Türkiye (MNTV) – Türkiye has launched its most ambitious defense project yet, unveiling a new multi-layered air defense system dubbed the “Steel Dome.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan inaugurated the system on Wednesday at defense contractor Aselsan’s headquarters in Ankara, calling it a turning point for the nation’s military capabilities.
“These systems are a show of strength for Türkiye,” Erdogan said. “With Steel Dome, we are ushering in a new era for our beloved country. It will inspire confidence in friends and fear in enemies.”
The $460 million project, described as Türkiye’s “security umbrella in the skies,” integrates radar, missile, gun, and electronic warfare systems to protect against low-, medium- and high-altitude threats such as drones, helicopters, aircraft, and missiles.
Wednesday’s delivery to the Turkish Armed Forces included 47 vehicles equipped with air defense and radar systems. Among them are the Siper long-range interceptor, Hisar-A+ and Hisar-O+ for low- and medium-altitude defense, and Korkut, a mobile anti-aircraft gun designed to counter drones and helicopters.
The system also incorporates next-generation technologies such as laser-based precision weapons Gokberk and Alka, along with hybrid solutions like Gurz, which combines missile, gun, and laser defenses. Other domestically produced systems — including Roketsan’s Sungur shoulder-launched missiles and the Goktug air-to-air missile — further expand Türkiye’s layered defense architecture.
Erdogan emphasized that Türkiye now meets nearly 80% of its military needs through homegrown systems, keeping critical resources within the country. He contrasted the achievement with Türkiye’s past reliance on foreign suppliers, referencing the 2019 purchase of Russia’s S-400s that led to Ankara’s expulsion from the US-led F-35 program.
“No country that cannot develop its own radar and air defense systems can look to the future with confidence in today’s security environment,” Erdogan said. “With Steel Dome, Türkiye now enters a different league in air defense.”
The project underscores Ankara’s growing ambition to achieve strategic independence in defense, as its firms Aselsan, Roketsan, and TUBITAK continue to expand the country’s missile and electronic warfare capabilities.
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