Turkey Inaugurates $460M Steel Dome Air Defense System

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrated the delivery of Turkey's new 'Steel Dome' air defense system, consisting of 47 vehicles valued at $460 million, describing it as a turning point for the country's air defense. Modeled on Israel's Iron Dome, the Steel Dome aims to create a multi-layered defense network integrating sea- and land-based platforms and radar sensors to protect Turkish airspace amid regional tensions in Syria, Ukraine, and Iran. Erdogan emphasized the strategic importance of self-reliance in defense technology, underscoring that countries unable to develop their own radar and air defense systems cannot face future security challenges with confidence. Defense Minister Yasar Guler highlighted the system’s role in increasing deterrence and enhancing the effectiveness of Turkish armed forces. The delivery ceremony also marked the inauguration of a $1.5 billion technology base, which will be Europe’s largest integrated air defense facility, expected to be operational by mid-2026. ASELSAN’s CEO Ahmet Akyol stated that the Steel Dome establishes Turkey as a significant player in the global defense industry, integrating unmanned aerial systems like the Kızılelma drone and expanding production capabilities by 40%.