Turkey has officially presented its new Steel Dome integrated air defence system, a project President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has described as a “landmark moment” for the country’s defence industry. The system has been developed by leading Turkish firms in coordination with the state and is designed to protect against a wide range of aerial threats, including drones, rockets, aircraft, and ballistic missiles.
These include radar systems, anti-aircraft batteries, electronic warfare equipment, and other platforms that form the first operational layer of the Steel Dome. “Today, we are providing our heroic army with the Sky Dome systems, consisting of a total of 47 vehicles worth 460 million dollars, that will instil confidence in friends and fear in enemies,” Erdogan said.
Why Turkey built the Steel Dome
The move to develop the system comes at a time of growing regional threats. In 2019, Turkey purchased the Russian S-400 air defence system, which led to its removal from the US-led F-35 fighter jet programme. That created a gap in Ankara’s defence plans.
Conflicts in Syria and Ukraine, along with Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, have further highlighted the need for a stronger domestic air defence shield. Erdogan explained the motivation clearly: “No country that cannot develop its own radar and air defence system can look to its future with confidence in the face of current security challenges, especially in our region."
Turkey has long prioritised defence independence. Ever since the US arms embargo of 1974 following Turkey’s intervention in Cyprus, Ankara has tried to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers. The Steel Dome is part of this strategy and is being designed and manufactured domestically by Aselsan, Roketsan, TUBITAK SAGE, and MKE.
What the Steel Dome includes
Officials describe Steel Dome as a “system of systems”. It integrates radars, sensors, interceptors, and command-and-control units into one unified defence network.
It has multiple layers of protection:
- Short range (below 5 km): Systems like Korkut and Sungur, along with new guns such as Gürz and Burç.
- Medium range (up to 20 km): Hisar-A+ and Hisar-O+ missile systems, with more advanced versions in development.
- Long range (beyond 20 km): The Siper family of interceptors, with Block 1 already deployed and Block 2 and 3 under testing.
Supporting these are radars like ERALP and Kalkan, mobile search units, and the HAKIM command-and-control system, which uses artificial intelligence to coordinate across all layers.
Turkey is also investing in directed energy weapons such as the Alka laser, which can destroy drones and rockets at a lower cost than traditional missiles.
How it compares to Israel’s Iron Dome
The Turkish Steel Dome has often been compared to Israel’s Iron Dome. Israel’s system has been in operation since 2011 and is combat-tested, with a reported interception rate above 90 percent. It includes multiple layers, from short-range Iron Dome interceptors to long-range Arrow missiles.
Turkey’s Steel Dome, while broad in scope, does not yet include the ability to counter very long-range ballistic missiles. Its maximum range with the upcoming Siper Block-3 is expected to be about 200 km, much less than Israel’s Arrow system, which can intercept threats thousands of kilometres away.
Experts believe Turkey may not achieve full nationwide coverage until the 2030s, as the system is still being integrated and tested.
Key challenges
Building and maintaining such a system across Turkey’s large territory will be costly and complex. Israel, which is much smaller, already operates at least ten Iron Dome batteries and still cannot fully cover all areas. For Turkey, the focus will likely be on protecting critical infrastructure such as major cities, ports, energy facilities, and military bases.
Cost is another major challenge. Intercepting a single target with missile systems can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Turkey is hoping that new laser weapons and hybrid solutions will help reduce these expenses.
Looking ahead
At the same event, Erdogan announced the start of construction of a new 1.5 billion dollar defence technology base, which he described as the biggest single defence investment in Turkey’s history. He also confirmed new Aselsan production facilities will open in 2026.
Looking to the future, Erdogan said: “In the next 50 years, Turkey will be a country that not only meets its own needs but also leads the world with its technology."
Aselsan has already suggested that once the Steel Dome is fully operational, it could be offered to allied countries for export.
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