Türkiye strengthens air defence with massive $460 million “Steel Dome” rollout VIDEO

President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked a significant milestone for his country’s defence capabilities with the delivery of the “Steel Dome” air defence system to the Turkish military.

“Today we are providing our army with the (Steel) Dome system, consisting of 47 vehicles worth $460 million, which will inspire confidence in friends and fear in enemies,” Erdogan declared during a ceremony held at the headquarters of Türkiye’s defence giant Aselsan, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

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The event celebrated the delivery of the project, launched just one year ago and led by state-owned defence companies.

“This system will make the world of difference for Türkiye’s air defence. This is a turning point for Türkiye,” Erdogan added, emphasizing the strategic importance of the new capability.

The “Steel Dome,” modeled after Israel’s renowned Iron Dome, is part of Türkiye’s plan to develop a multi-layered air defence shield to secure its airspace. Last August, Türkiye announced the initiative amid growing regional instability, particularly concerning Israel’s increased military activity in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad, and the recent 12-day air conflict between Iran and Israel in June.  

“Recent conflicts around us have revealed the importance” of advanced radar systems for detecting incoming aerial threats, Erdogan said. He stressed the necessity for domestic development of such technology to ensure national security: “Unless a country can develop its own radar and air defence system, it cannot look to its future with confidence in the face of current security challenges, especially in our region.”

The president also noted, “We are aware of the importance of not leaving anything to chance…. With the Steel Dome, we will now be in a different class in terms of air defence.”

Defence Minister Yasar Guler, also present at the ceremony, highlighted the system’s impact on military deterrence: the new system “will further increase the deterrence and effectiveness of our armed forces… and ensure our security at the highest level.”

Erdogan additionally inaugurated work on a $1.5 billion technology base, calling it “the largest defence industry investment ever made in a single instance in the history of the republic” and “the largest integrated air defence facility in the whole of Europe.” He announced that the first facility on this new campus is expected to be operational by mid-2026.

“This investment is going to… make Türkiye not just a regional player but a global player when it comes to defence systems,” Erdogan concluded.

By Vafa Guliyeva