Turkish Steel Dome: An Unbreakable Air Defense I
Dr. Syed Mehboob
All over the world, war is disliked by peace lovers, but it is also a bitter fact that if we want to avoid war and save our motherland, we need deterrence, which keeps powers with ill eyes away from our country. It is also very important that the defense systems of peace-loving nations must be very strong. Brother country, Turkiye, its people and leadership are peace lovers, but they also love their country very much and want to sacrifice everything to defend their motherland.
In recent wars between Israel and Iran and between Pakistan and India, it has been proven that a strong, modern air force and strong air defense are vital for a country’s defense.
Turkiye is a wonderful country and takes wonderful steps. One of its such wonderful steps is “Steel Done”. It is an integrated, multi-layer air defence system designed to counter threats from drones to ballistic missiles. It connects various components like radars, sensors, and missile systems, including short-range Korkut, medium-range Hisar, and long-range Siper, using a command network powered by artificial intelligence. The system is a key part of Turkey’s goal to build defence capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
Key features
·Integrated System:
The Steel Dome is a “System of systems” that links various defence assets into a single, AI-enabled network for faster detection and response.
·Multi-layered defense:
It uses a layered approach to counter threats at different altitudes, from short-range systems like the Korkut to medium-range Hisar missiles and the long-range Siper system.
Domestic development
The system is a result of Turkey’s drive to develop its own defence industry, with components like radar, missiles, and command centers being domestically produced.
Threat coverage
It is designed to defend against a wide range of threats, including drones, cruise missiles, fighter jets, and ballistic missiles.
Strategic importance:
The system enhances Turkey’s national security, protects critical infrastructure, and signifies a move towards greater self-sufficiency in defense, partially in response to the removal from the F-35 program after the purchase of the S-400 missile system.
The Steel Dome Project was approved at the Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) meeting held on 6 August 2024. The system aims to integrate sensor and weapon systems within a network-centric structure within a layered air defense architecture, create a common air picture, and transfer this data to artificial intelligence-supported decision-making systems. It was developed by Aselsan in cooperation with Roketsan, Tubitak SAGE, SAGE, and MKE. Steel Dome entered the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces on 27 August 2025 in a ceremony in which Aselan delivered a 47-piece high, medium, and low-altitude air defense system and radar, totaling $460 million. It was announced that these deliveries were the first component of Türkiye's air defense project. Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated at the ceremony that one Siper battery consisting of 10 vehicles, three Hisar batteries consisting of 21 vehicles, seven PUHU and two REDET electronic warfare systems, ALP 300 G, ALP 100 G radars were delivered.
Steel Dome integrates domestic air defense systems that will be effective at different altitudes. The system includes radars, electro-optical sensors, command and control centers, and air defense elements with various ranges.
Iron Dome” is the name given to the lower-tier foundation of the IMDO air defense system, which was gradually deployed by the State of Israel following the Gulf War in 1991.
The Israeli low-layer foundation has been operational since 2011. It has been tested almost daily since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, particularly to intercept and destroy short-range rockets like Katyushas, or longer-range 122 mm rockets fired by Hezbollah.
The Israeli “Iron Dome” is, therefore, strictly speaking, only the first level of protection from the ground. The Turkish project “Steel Dome” (Çelik Kubbe), on the other hand, aims to integrate, both at sea and on land, multi-layer air defense systems, sensors, and other weapon systems into a network. According to Turkish authorities, it is a true “system of systems” that will allow for the real-time development and dissemination of a common air situation (Recognized Air Picture, RAP) refined by artificial intelligence input.
The “Steel Dome” will have to consider existing air defense systems, notably in Ankara and along the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, and address new needs like the protection of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.
Turkey's "Steel Dome" is an integrated, multi-layered air defense system designed to counter threats from drones to ballistic missiles. It connects various components like radars, sensors, and missile systems (including short-range Korkut, medium-range Hisar, and long-range Siper) using a command network powered by artificial intelligence. The system is a key part of Turkey's goal to build domestic defense capabilities and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The Steel Dome is a "system of systems" that links various defense assets into a single, AI-enabled network for faster detection and response.
It uses a layered approach to counter threats at different altitudes, from short-range systems like the Korkut to medium-range Hisar missiles and the long-range Siper system. The system is a result of Turkey's drive to develop its own defense industry, with components like radar, missiles, and command centers being domestically produced.
The system enhances Turkey's national security, protects critical infrastructure, and signifies a move towards greater self-sufficiency in defense, partly in response to the removal from the F-35 program after the purchase of the S-400 missile system.
The Israeli low-layer foundation has been operational since 2011. It has been tested almost daily since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, particularly to intercept and destroy short-range rockets like Katyushas, or longer-range 122 mm rockets fired by Hezbollah.
The Israeli “Iron Dome” is, therefore, strictly speaking, only the first level of protection from the ground. The Turkish project “Steel Dome” (Çelik Kubbe), on the other hand, aims to integrate, both at sea and on land, multi-layer air defense systems, sensors, and other weapon systems into a network. According to Turkish authorities, it is a true “system of systems” that will allow for the real-time development and dissemination of a common air situation (Recognized Air Picture, RAP) refined by artificial intelligence input.
The “Steel Dome” will have to consider existing air defense systems, notably in Ankara and along the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits, and address new needs like the protection of the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.
The decision to launch the “Steel Dome” project was made on August 6, 2024, by the Executive Committee of the Defense Industry (SSİK). Following political statements clarified that the project would be carried out in a “local and national” manner, which implies the design and manufacture of materials entirely within Turkey by Turkish companies. Key players selected for the project, ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TÜBİTAK SAGE, and MKE, rely on local subcontractors but will call upon foreign suppliers when necessary, keeping their involvement as low-profile as possible to highlight the Turkish identity of the materials.
Turkish-origin air defense systems needed for the “Steel Dome” project are already in service or under development.
The Turkish defense industry is also developing most of the components necessary for the “Steel Dome”: the satellite positioning system (GNSS) KAŞİF, the KKS antenna (GPS), and the ATLAS inertial measurement unit. Additionally, on December 5, 2024, the Turkish Armed Forces’ cloud computing system project (TSK Bulut Bilişim Sistemi Projesi) was launched, which will provide an essential infrastructure for the “Steel Dome.”
The general manager of ROKETSAN stated that the “Steel Dome” will protect “the entirety of Turkey against future air threats. Israel, which is smaller than Turkey in size, would have at least 10 Iron Domes for low-level protection. While a higher number is sometimes suggested, it must be acknowledged that they do not cover areas that are uninhabited. France, itself, could not cover its entire territory with a fully airtight system. It deploys, in cases of high air threats, such as during large events, special security arrangements (DPSA) aimed at temporarily tightening the air defense net around the sensitive zone. Other countries have shelters to protect populations in case of air attacks. Therefore, a permanent, fully airtight protection of Turkish territory would require an operational commitment that the armed forces could hardly sustain, or would require painful capability breaks. ( Continued)
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