(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — If Israel has the “Iron Dome” air defense system, Turkey will soon possess the “Steel Dome” Layered Air Defense System.
According to Turkish media reports, the decision to develop the “Steel Dome” Layered Air Defense System was made during a meeting of the Turkish Defense Industry Executive Committee, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
A statement from the Turkish Presidency regarding the matter indicated that the air defense system is being developed locally and domestically.
“The Steel Dome Layered Air Defense System ensures that layered air defense systems, sensors, and weaponry work in an integrated manner under a structured network, allowing real-time air situation awareness to be created and delivered to the operations center and decision-makers with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
The Steel Dome Layered Air Defense System is being developed as a “system within a system” by Turkey’s defense industry.
According to information from Turkish defense media, the “Steel Dome” air defense system is being developed by Turkey’s defense industry and incorporates various air defense systems developed by the country.
These air defense systems, including KORKUT, HİSAR-A+, GÖKDEMİR, GÖKER, GÖKBERK, HİSAR-O+, and SİPER, will be capable of operating in an integrated manner.
Additionally, radar components and electro-optic systems tasked with identifying, tracking, and classifying targets will also function in an integrated manner within the Steel Dome Layered Air Defense System.
The Steel Dome Layered Air Defense System will deploy various air defense systems, radar, electro-optic systems, communication modules, command and control stations, with AI acting as the “brain” of the system.
The long-range air defense system “SiPER,” developed by ASELSAN and touted as a competitor to Russia’s S-400 “Triumf” air defense system, will begin guarding Turkey’s airspace later this year, using SiPER Block 1 missiles.
The SiPER Block 1 missile can engage aerial targets at a range of 70 km, while the SiPER Block II missile, currently under testing, is expected to be operational by the Turkish Air Force next year.
The SiPER Block II missile, which began testing last year, is designed to be more capable and effective in handling aerial threats, with a range of up to 150 km.
Meanwhile, the SiPER Block 3 missile, currently under development, will enable the air defense system to tackle aerial targets at ranges exceeding 200 km.
The long-range SiPER air defense system development began in 2018 following a contract between Turkey’s defense development agency, SSB, and ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, and TUBITAKSAGE.
The primary goal of the SiPER long-range air defense project is to meet Turkey’s needs for high-altitude air defense systems.
In addition to the SiPER air defense system, Turkey is also developing an air defense system called “HISAR.”
The HISAR air defense system consists of the low-altitude HISAR-A, already commissioned in the Turkish military, and the long-range HISAR-U, which will soon enter service.
The HISAR air defense system is developed by ROKETSAN, which provides the missiles, while ASELSAN develops the electronics for the defense system.
Turkey is developing the HISAR air defense system in its efforts to create a multi-layered air defense system, encompassing low-altitude (HISAR-A), medium-altitude (HISAR-O), and high-altitude or long-range (HISAR-U) defense capabilities. — DSA