Domestic and National Air Defense Network: Steel Dome

At the Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) meeting held yesterday under the chairmanship of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, it was decided to develop the domestic and national Steel Dome project, which will strengthen Turkey’s air defense capabilities with a revolutionary step.

At the meeting, 56 projects were evaluated for the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, General Directorate of Security and Gendarmerie General Command. These included kamikaze UAVs and İDAs, long-range missile systems and air defense systems.

However, the most important agenda item of the meeting was the “system of systems” and a multilayered air defense network It was the Steel Dome project. This project will enable Turkey’s air defense systems at different ranges, radars and all sensors to work in an integrated manner by combining them under a single roof.

What systems will be located under the Steel Dome?

Here are the important elements of Steel Dome:

• KORKUT: KORKUT, a close-range air defense system, is especially effective against targets flying at low altitudes. Equipped with a 35 mm gun system, KORKUT offers fast and effective intervention against air threats.
• FORTRESS: Short and medium range air defense missile system HİSAR can eliminate a wide range of air threats with its different types (HİSAR-A, HİSAR-O). It provides effective defense especially against airplanes, helicopters, cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles.
• TRENCH: Long-range air defense missile system SİPER is a strategic system that will take Turkey’s air defense capabilities to the highest level. SIPER, which can neutralize long-range air threats including ballistic missiles, is of critical importance for the security of Turkey’s airspace.
• Radars with different features: Steel Dome will also include radar systems with different ranges and capabilities. These radars will detect air threats early, provide the necessary information to air defense systems and enable timely intervention. They will also have aircraft that they communicate with.

Thanks to Steel Dome, the data obtained from all these systems will be brought together to create a common air picture and this picture will be transmitted to the operations centers in real time. With the support of artificial intelligence, the most accurate and fastest information flow will be provided to decision makers.

Turkey’s leading defense industry companies such as ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TÜBİTAK SAGE and MKE will work jointly in the execution of the project. This cooperation is of great importance for the success of the project and once again reinforces Turkey’s goal of self-sufficiency in the defense industry.

We can clearly say that the Steel Dome project is the biggest and most important step taken by Turkey in the field of air defense. With the completion of the project, Turkey will be able to protect its airspace much more effectively and significantly increase its deterrence power.