Turkey’s unveiling of its first hypersonic ballistic missile, the Tayfun Block-4, comes at a time of rising geopolitical tension in South Asia and growing Ankara-Islamabad defence cooperation. The development raises red flags for India, especially after the recent military confrontation with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack. Given the technological leap and the strategic partnerships in the region, India has strong reasons to keep a close watch on Turkey’s evolving military ambitions and its support to Pakistan.
Turkey’s hypersonic leap: Tayfun Block-4
At the 2025 International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) in Istanbul, Turkey showcased the Tayfun Block-4, its first-ever hypersonic ballistic missile. Developed by the state-backed defence major Roketsan, the missile represents a major milestone for Ankara’s growing indigenous weapons programme.
The missile is a hypersonic version of the original Tayfun, which was already Turkey’s longest-range ballistic missile. The new Block-4 variant measures 6.5 meters, weighs 2,300 kilograms, and has a striking range of 800 kilometres, according to Turkey Today.
In a statement, Roketsan claimed: "The Tayfun Block-4 achieves long ranges, setting another record for the Turkish defence industry. Weighing over 7 tons, this new version of the Tayfun, with its multi-purpose warhead, will be capable of destroying numerous strategic targets, such as air defence systems, command and control centres, military hangars, and critical military facilities, from kilometres away."
This puts a new class of targets within reach for Ankara, significantly enhancing its strike capabilities and signalling its intent to emerge as a key player in the global hypersonic arms race.
What exactly is a hypersonic missile?
Hypersonic missiles differ from traditional missiles in their ability to manoeuvre mid-flight at speeds of Mach 5 and beyond -- that's five times the speed of sound, or about 6,100 km/h. These speeds, combined with unpredictable trajectories and in-atmosphere flight, make them extremely hard to detect and intercept.
While experts agree that most ballistic missiles reach hypersonic speeds during their descent, the term “hypersonic missile” is usually reserved for advanced systems like hypersonic glide vehicles and cruise missiles that sustain those speeds while manoeuvring -- a capability now being claimed by Turkey.
The strategic threat: Turkey-Pakistan military ties
For India, the concern is not just Turkey’s growing military capabilities but the deepening defence ties between Ankara and Islamabad. These ties, once limited to symbolic gestures, are now translating into real-time battlefield cooperation.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent India-Pakistan military escalation, Turkish weapons were reportedly deployed by Pakistan. Both nations denied any official arms transfers. However, the Indian Army later confirmed the use of Turkish-origin platforms during the conflict.
"Turkey... played an important role in providing the type of support it did; they gave Bayraktar. We saw numerous other drones also coming in during the war," said Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (capability development and sustenance), earlier this month.
The Bayraktar TB2 drones, produced by Turkey’s Baykar Technologies, have already proved their effectiveness in conflicts from Ukraine to Libya. Their use in Pakistan’s arsenal against India highlights a concerning precedent.
More than just drones
Turkey’s defence support for Pakistan is not limited to drones. Naval assets, training programmes, and military exchanges have all seen an uptick in recent years. As Turkey’s defence industry expands rapidly, it is increasingly becoming a go-to partner for countries seeking affordable and advanced weapon systems, and Pakistan is among its top clients.
The strategic alignment between the two countries was further underscored this month when Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan visited Islamabad. The purpose of the visit was clear: deepen cooperation across sectors, including defence, economy, culture, and education.
Why India cannot ignore the Turkey-Pakistan axis
India has good reason to be concerned about the growing defence and political partnership between Turkey and Pakistan. One of the key threats lies in Turkey’s rapid progress in advanced military technology, especially its development of hypersonic missiles. If this technology is ever shared with Pakistan, it could drastically shift the regional military balance and pose a new challenge for India.
Another area of concern is Turkey’s export of unmanned warfare systems. Turkish-made Bayraktar drones have already been used by Pakistan during recent conflicts with India. As the two countries deepen their tactical cooperation, India faces a new type of security threat along its borders -- one that relies heavily on fast, hard-to-detect drone warfare.
Beyond military hardware, the political and ideological alignment between Turkey and Pakistan is also troubling. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has positioned himself as a global voice for the Islamic world and has often supported Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir. This strengthens both countries’ anti-India narrative on international platforms.
Finally, Pakistan’s growing partnership with Turkey is part of a broader effort to reduce its reliance on China. By diversifying its defence relationships, Pakistan is gaining more military support and flexibility, which could be used against India in future conflicts.
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