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Turkey Unveils “Steel Dome” Air Defense System
Ankara – Turkey has deployed its newly developed “Steel Dome” air defense system, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced Wednesday. The system, which Erdogan stated cost $460 million and consists of 47 vehicles, is designed to counter aerial threats and bolster the nation’s multi-layered air defense capabilities.
Erdogan emphasized the importance of domestic defense development, stating, “Unless a country can develop its own radar and air defense system, it cannot look to its future with confidence.” He touted the Steel Dome’s ability to inspire “confidence in friends and fear in enemies.”
The mobile system integrates land- and sea-based platforms and radar systems into a single network for detecting and intercepting airborne weapons. This deployment comes as regional conflicts involving aerial warfare are on the rise.
The Turkish president also unveiled a $1.5 billion investment in a defense technology base, the largest single investment in Turkey’s defense capabilities to date. Erdogan projected that the first phase of the project will be operational by mid-2026 and will establish Turkey as a “global player in defense systems.”