7 days ago
Meet ‘Steel Dome', Turkey's answer to Israel's Iron Dome air defense system, includes SIPER long-range missile system, its capable of…; concern for India due to…
Turkey is developing its homegrown Steel Dome air defense system. (File)
In another major success in homegrown defense systems, Turkey has completed the serial production acceptance test of its indigenous-developed SIPER long-range missile defense system, which is designed to be a critical component of the proposed multi-layered 'Steel Dome' air defense shield. How powerful is Turkey's SIPER missile system?
According to details, the SİPER Product-2 variant, will have a range of 150 kilometers, and is designed to intercept a variety of aerial threats, including fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and air-to-ground munitions. The domestically-developed missile, jointly developed by Aselsan, Roketsan and the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Institute (TUBITAK), is designed to be integrated into Turkey's indigenously-built 'Steel Dome' air defense system.
The missile is equipped with a K-band radio frequency seeker for accurate target identification and tracking, according to officials. What is Turkey's Steel Dome
The Steel Dome is an indigenous air defense system being developed by Turkey. The system will be a network-based air defense shield with integrated artificial intelligence support, designed to defend from a wide-range of aerial threats, including long-range ballistic missiles, fighter jets, cruise missiles, drones, and air-to-ground munitions.
The air defense system includes a 35 km Korkat gun system (for very short range threats), Hisar-A and Hisar-O missiles (for short and medium range threats) and SIPER missile system for long-range threats. Turkey is also developing advanced components for the system, including methods to connect navigation system to satellite, and development of the KKS antenna.
Additionally, Turkey is also developing its indigenous KâŞİF Global Positioning System (GNSS) receiver, and the Atlas Inertial Measurement Unit. Why there is concern for India?
Turkey, along with China and Azerbaijan, were among the few countries that openly supported Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Ahead of Operation Sindoor, Turkey, which has strengthened its military ties with Pakistan in recent times, had reportedly docked its warship at the Karachi Port, to deter any sea-based attack on the country by the Indian Navy.
Additionally, Turkey also armed the Pakistani forces with advanced military drones like the Bayraktar TB2, which were actively used against Indian installations during Operation Sindoor.
Experts fear that Turkey, which is rapidly developing advanced indigenous military technology, could provide these armaments to Pakistan in the future, posing a major threat to India.
