Turkish firms sign $6.5 billion contracts to reinforce ‘Steel Dome’ defense system

ANKARA — Turkish defense companies signed $6.5 billion worth of contracts to reinforce and develop Turkey’s integrated, multi-layered “Steel Dome” air defense system, the Turkish Defence Industries Presidency (SSB) says.

NATO member Turkey, which in recent years has significantly ramped up its defense industry production and reduced dependence on external suppliers, first announced plans to build its “Steel Dome” — similar to Israel’s Iron Dome system — in July 2024.

The project comprised 47 components, including radars, missiles, electro-optical sensors, command and control centers and air defense elements with different ranges.

Strikes by Israel — the Middle East’s most advanced military with hundreds of US-supplied F-15, F-16 and F-35 fighters — on Turkey’s neighbors Iran and Syria, as well as on Lebanon and Qatar, unnerved Ankara in the last year and pushed it to ramp up air power and air defense to counter any possible threats.

Turkey has also become a leading manufacturer and exporter of armed drones, with these being used in conflicts in Ukraine, Syria, Nagorno-Karabakh, and across Africa.

In a statement, SSB Chairman Haluk Gorgun says the contracts include combat systems and their advanced versions, which would be developed by Turkish manufacturer Roketsan, adding that the “Steel Dome” would be made of fully domestic systems. Gorgun says the contracts would help increase Turkey’s deterrence, while also contributing to efforts to increase the range and scope of its combat systems.