Erdogan Inaugurates Turkey’s New “Steel Dome” Air Defense System
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday inaugurated Turkey’s new integrated air defense system, the «Steel Dome,» calling it a historic milestone for the country’s military and defense industry.
«These systems are a show of strength for Turkey,» Erdogan said at defense contractor Aselsan’s Ankara facilities. «In air defense we are ushering in a new era for our beloved Turkey.»
The Steel Dome links sea- and land-based defense platforms and radar sensors into a single network to protect Turkish airspace. The latest stage of the project includes 47 vehicles worth $460 mln, though the government has not specified when the system will be fully operational.
«No country that cannot develop its own radar and air defense system can look to its future with confidence,» Erdogan said, stressing the importance of self-reliance amid regional security crises in Syria, Ukraine and Iran.
Turkey previously acquired Russian S-400 missile systems in 2019, a move that led to its expulsion from the U.S.-led F-35 fighter jet program. Since then, Ankara has accelerated investments in domestic defense production.
Erdogan also unveiled new Aselsan production facilities due to open in 2026, saying:
«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.»
Turkey has prioritized defense independence since a U.S. arms embargo following its 1974 Cyprus intervention, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers.
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