Türkiye is investing heavily in strengthening its national air and missile defense capabilities through a landmark project known as the Steel Dome. Designed as a multi-layered, integrated shield for the country’s airspace, the system combines advanced air defense, radar, and electronic warfare technologies. With significant deliveries already underway, the Steel Dome marks a turning point in Türkiye’s defense posture and its ambitions to achieve technological independence.
What Is the Steel Dome?
The Steel Dome is Türkiye’s first comprehensive, multi-layered integrated air and missile defense system. It has been developed to protect the nation against a wide spectrum of aerial threats, including:
-
Ballistic missiles
-
Cruise missiles
-
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs)
-
Manned aircraft
-
Artillery rockets and other airborne threats
By combining several indigenous defense systems under one architecture, the Steel Dome creates a layered shield capable of neutralizing threats at multiple ranges and altitudes.
Key Components and Technical Features
ASELSAN, Türkiye’s leading defense electronics company, has already delivered 47 critical subsystems worth USD 460 million under the Steel Dome program. The backbone of the system includes:
-
SİPER – Long-range air and missile defense system with an engagement range exceeding 100 km, designed to intercept advanced ballistic and cruise missiles.
-
HİSAR – Medium-range air defense system effective against aircraft, helicopters, and UAVs, with hit-to-kill capability at ranges up to 40 km.
-
KORKUT – Self-propelled 35mm air defense gun system integrated with airburst ammunition, optimized for close-in defense against low-flying drones, helicopters, and rockets.
-
ALP Radar – Mobile early-warning radar with a detection range of over 450 km, designed for high-resolution target acquisition and tracking.
-
PUHU – Advanced electronic warfare system capable of jamming, deception, and signal intelligence to degrade enemy guidance and targeting systems.
These assets are linked through a nationally developed command-and-control system, enabling real-time coordination, multi-target engagement, and resilience against electronic attack.
Strategic Significance
The Steel Dome is not just a technological achievement—it is a strategic asset for Türkiye. By creating an indigenous, multi-layered defense shield, the program aims to:
-
Secure national airspace against advanced threats
-
Reduce dependency on foreign systems
-
Enhance interoperability of Turkish Armed Forces
-
Support export ambitions in global defense markets
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan described the program as “a critical leap forward for securing Türkiye’s future and building Europe’s largest integrated air defense facility”.
Supporting Infrastructure
The Oğulbey Technology Base, currently under construction with an investment of USD 1.5 billion, will serve as the hub for the Steel Dome program. Spread over 6.5 million square meters, it will host design, production, and integration activities for advanced air and missile defense technologies.
In parallel, 14 new facilities valued at USD 280 million have been inaugurated, boosting ASELSAN’s production capacity by 40% and enabling accelerated development of Steel Dome components.
