Turkey Has Developed A Locally Manufactured Air Defense System, Steel Dome

Steel Dome, Turkey Media

Istanbul: Turkey has developed a domestically produced air defense system, Steel Dome.

According to Turkish media, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially inaugurated the country's "Steel Dome" air defense shield on Wednesday, which he described as a historic moment for Turkey and its defense industry.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his speech at the inauguration ceremony of the air defense system, said that the Steel Dome will take our air defense capabilities to a completely different level.

He said that a country that does not have its own radar, air defense and electronic systems cannot ensure its existence in the future.

According to the Turkish president, the first phase of the project includes 47 vehicles worth $460 million, which will be a symbol of trust for Turkey's friends and fear for its enemies.

The Turkish government has not said when the system will be fully operational. However, the president also announced the delivery of the $460 million Steel Dome system to the military.

According to the report, Erdogan's government announced the Steel Dome project in August last year, The aim is to protect Turkey's airspace by integrating maritime and land-based air defense platforms and sensors into a single network.

It should be recalled that Turkey purchased the S-400 missile system from Russia in 2019, which led to its exclusion from the US F-35 aircraft program, which was a major setback for Ankara's defense goals.