Turkish Steel Dome: An Unbreakable Air Defense II
Dr. Syed Mehboob
Political and Economic Analyst
http//: www.thenewslark.com
email: [email protected]
Turkish-origin air defense systems needed for the “Steel Dome” project are already in service or under development.
Regarding weapons:
• Short-range, low-altitude systems (firing range < 5 km): Cannons: KORKUT (35 mm) and its naval version GÖKDENİZ (same caliber) already in service. They are complemented by older foreign systems in service or in reserve: BOFORS L-60/70/70T/M1A1 (40 mm), OERLIKON GAI-D01 (2 X 20 mm), OERLIKON GDF-001/003 (2 X 35 mm), M42A1 DUSTER (40 mm), M55 (12.7 mm), and RHEINMETALL MK-20 RH-202 (2 X 20 mm). Under development: C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) version of KORKUT, BURÇ (30 mm), GÜRZ (35 mm), and GÖKER (35 mm);
• Missiles: HİSAR-A+ in autonomous or towed version, HİSAR ManPADS and its SUNGUR version integrated on the BMC VURAN 4X4 vehicle. These are already in service. Foreign systems of the same category operational in the Turkish Armed Forces include STINGER ManPADS, STINGER ATILGAN (mounted on M113), STINGER ZIPKIN (mounted on Land Rover Defender 130), RAPIER MK.2B, and FIM-43 REDEYE. Under development for the Navy: GÖKSUR and LEVENT;
• Medium-altitude, medium-range systems (firing range < 20 km): HİSAR-O+ missile, which has a naval version (HİSAR-OD). These are already in service. In the same category, the MIM-23 HAWK / HAWK XXI transferred to Turkey under the US Southern Region Aid (SRA) are still operational. Under development: GÖKDEMİR. The short-range air-to-air missile GÖKDOĞAN (IIR seeker) and the medium-range air-to-air missile BOZDOĞAN (RF seeker, similar to the Israeli TAMIR missile) could be adapted to the HİSAR-A and HİSAR-O systems;
• High-altitude, long-range systems (firing range > 20 km): HİSAR-U/SİPER Ürün[2]-1, 2, and 3, with the first (1) already delivered to the forces, and the subsequent versions (2 and 3) still under development. As the use of S-400s purchased from Russia raises concerns about potential fratricidal fire, Turkey still relies on its MIM-14 NIKE HERCULES, or on NATO assets put in place under NATO Support to Turkey (NS2T).
This list should also include the HİSAR-G/G+, which would be a HİSAR system utilizing air-to-air GÖKTUĞ munitions.
Regarding radars:
• The ERALP long-range surveillance radar and the MAR (Mobil Arama Radarı, mobile search radar, mounted on vehicles) are in service;
• The KALKAN acquisition radar is in service;
• The AKR fire control radar, on land or on ships (version D), is in service.
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.” However, since this statement does not provide details on the permanence of the deployment, it raises several questions.
Firstly, 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.
Secondly, the Israeli “Iron Dome” is not infallible. For example, it did not prevent Hezbollah from attacking a military base in Binyamina, northern Israel, which cost the lives of four people and left several dozen wounded on October 13, 2024. Hence, the laser project “Iron Beam” is intended to intercept and destroy drones and Qassam rockets used by Hamas more effectively. Aware of this need, Turkey has launched similar laser programs ALKA and GÖKBERK to complement its “Steel Dome” project.
Cost will be a major variable. Figures suggest that a shot from the Israeli “Iron Dome” costs over $10,000, and a TAMIR missile costs around $50,000, making it necessary for Turkey to later export its “Steel Dome” to allied and friendly countries, as announced by the general manager of ASELSAN.
Lastly, the Israeli air defense system operates with the support of the United States. While Turkey is very determined to achieve independence from external sources, it does not have an unlimited budget and has not yet reached full technological maturity to develop high-performing technologies capable of neutralizing targets flying at very high speeds (up to 8 km/s). It will be up to SSİK, when the time comes, to decide on research priorities and weapon programs and make the necessary trade-offs.
Or ‘layered’: which take into account the different distances and altitudes of threats.
Ürun means ‘product’. Announced ranges: 100 km for Ürun-1 and 150 km for Ürün-2.
It is vital that the S-400 does not identify a Turkish or allied aircraft as an enemy using its A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area-Denial) capabilities, which is why it is necessary to reprogram the IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) at the origin of the system according to the Turkish perception of the threat with the National Threat Data Bank and using national and NATO algorithms.
Background
In August 2024, Türkiye finalised the key plans for the Çelik Kubbe (Steel Dome) programme, a multilayered air defence system to strengthen national airspace security. The initiative, endorsed at the second Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSIK) meeting chaired by Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in August 2024, sought to integrate diverse defence assets into a unified, AI-enabled command and control network.
During the SSIK Meeting, Erdoğan highlighted Türkiye’s growing defence self-reliance, noting that 80 per cent of the military’s needs are now met domestically, conserving resources and expanding diplomatic influence through exports. He framed the development of the Steel Dome as enhancing confidence among allies and deterrence against adversaries, stressing that recent regional conflicts reaffirm the necessity of indigenous radar, air defence, and electronic warfare capabilities for long-term security.
Exactly a year later, ASELSAN, Türkiye’s premier defence firm, delivered 47 critical indigenous components of the Steel Dome system, worth US$ 460 million, to the Turkish Armed Forces. These included advanced air defence, electronic warfare, and radar platforms such as SİPER, HİSAR, KORKUT, ALP and PUHU. Collectively, they form a multi-layered and integrated defence architecture.
Türkiye’s pursuit of autonomous air defence has been shaped by historical dependence on NATO and evolving regional threats. During the Gulf War, the deployment of Patriot missile systems by NATO allies underscored Türkiye’s vulnerability to missile attacks. It also highlighted its reliance on external political decisions to secure its airspace. Perceiving this dependency as a strategic liability, Türkiye launched the T-LORAMIDS (Turkish Long-Range Air and Missile Defence System) programme in 2006 to acquire its own missile defence system.[3] Although bids from the United States, Europe, Russia, and China were considered, technology-transfer restrictions and strategic concerns eventually led Ankara to cancel its planned purchase of China’s FD-2000 in 2015 and shift toward domestic development.
Since then, Türkiye has invested heavily in indigenous systems across multiple tiers: KORKUT for very-short range, HİSAR-A/O for short- and medium-range, and SİPER for long-range interception. This signals a determination to achieve self-reliant, layered air defence. Erdoğan’s assertion that Türkiye would one day export such systems encapsulates this strategic ambition, with the Steel Dome project representing the culmination of these efforts to ensure sovereign control over national airspace.
Industrial Base and Technological Architecture
As part of ASELSAN’s 50th anniversary celebrations, the foundation was laid for the Oğulbey Technology Base, with a US$ 1.5 billion investment. This is one of Türkiye’s largest in the defence sector and is set to become Europe’s largest integrated air defence facility. It is mainly dedicated to developing the multi-layered Steel Dome air and missile defence system.
Key public defence entities, including ASELSAN, Roketsan, Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), and TÜBİTAK Defence Industry Research and Development Institute (SAGE), are implementing the programme, marking another step in Ankara’s broader push toward indigenous defence capability.
Türkiye possesses the core industrial and technical capabilities to assemble a multilayer ‘Steel Dome’. Indigenous firms (notably ASELSAN and Roketsan) already produce the building blocks—radars, electronic warfare suites, and interceptors—and recent reports of the delivery of 47 key Steel Dome components to the Turkish Armed Forces demonstrate serial production and handover capacity.The missile family underpinning the layers are in place: Roketsan and partners field the HİSAR short/medium-range family and the SİPER long-range missile (SİPER Block-1 >100 km, Block-2/3 planned to extend range further), giving Türkiye indigenous interceptors across multiple ranges. Crucially, in March 2025, ASELSAN received US$ 616 million in funding from Türkiye’s Ministry of Industry and Technology under the government’s Project-Based Investment Incentives, or Super Incentive Programme. The allocation fast-tracked the establishment of advanced production facilities critical to developing the Steel Dome air defence system. This industrial hub, covering 6,500 acres in Ankara, is intended for the high-volume serial production of essential technologies, testing and integration of Steel Dome systems. ASELSAN will also be available for Advance Loans Against Investment Commitment (YTAK) for high-technology projects.
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