Türkiye’s Steel Dome defense system
Türkiye has announced the launch of the Steel Dome project, aiming to enhance its capabilities in confronting air threats using locally-made weapons and systems.
The Turkish Defense Industry Executive Committee, chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, decided in its meeting on August 6 to develop this project to enhance the security of the country’s airspace.
The project witnessing cooperation between a number of leading Turkish defense industry companies such as ASELSAN, Roketsan, and MKE, in addition to TÜBITAK Defense Industries Research and Development Institute (SAGE).
This system is described as a “system of systems” because it integrates a variety of advanced weapons and defense systems under the control of advanced artificial intelligence.
The Steel Dome will include an integrated suite of air defense systems, radars, electro-optical systems, communication units, and command control stations, making it a comprehensive defense force to protect Turkish airspace.
The system has four layers: very short range, short range, medium range, and long range.
Many components of the project, such as short and middle-range systems, are already in military inventory.
For the initial layer, covering a maximum range of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) and an altitude limit of 5 kilometers, Türkiye boasts various options developed by Aselsan, including Korkut, Gökberk, Şahin, Göker, Ihtar and Sungur.
For the low altitude layer, ranging from 5 to 10 kilometers, Türkiye has systems such as Herikks, C-Ram, Hisar A+, Gökdemir and Gürz.
The medium altitude layer, spanning 10 to 15 kilometers, could incorporate Kalkan 1, Kalkan 2, and Hisar O+.
These systems are designed to provide effective air defense for armed forces, both in the field and on the move.
In addition, Roketsan will contribute advanced systems such as the Alka directed energy weapon system, which uses lasers to neutralize small drones, and the Burj mobile air defense system, designed to deal with advanced air threats on the battlefield.
The TUBITAK SAGA Institute will participate in the project with the Bozdoğan and Gökdoğan missiles, in addition to advanced electronic systems antennas used for defense purposes.
The Steel Dome relies on artificial intelligence to integrate and improve the performance of these systems, allowing for a comprehensive aerial picture to be drawn that can be sent to command centers for faster and more accurate decision-making.
