National Interest: Turkey Builds a $6.5 Billion Steel Dome to Protect Its Airspace

SadaNews - Amid the rising unrest in the Middle East and the evolution of modern aerial threats, Turkey is moving forward with one of the largest air defense projects in the region, dubbed the "Steel Dome."

The National Interest magazine, in a news report by its national security editor, Brandon Weichert, detailed this $6.5 billion project that Ankara drew inspiration for from similar global systems such as Israel's "Iron Dome" and the proposed U.S. "Golden Dome."

The Steel Dome project is considered an ambitious defense investment worth $6.5 billion, aimed at solidifying Turkey's military superiority regionally, according to the writer.

The Turkish government signed a massive contract with a coalition of local defense companies - such as Aselsan, Roketsan, and Havelsan - to create a multi-layered air and missile defense system that relies on local technologies, granting Ankara greater autonomy in armament away from external pressures and fluctuations in global markets.

According to the magazine's report, the Steel Dome works to integrate radars, missiles, command and control centers, and electronic warfare systems into a single umbrella capable of confronting a wide spectrum of threats, ranging from drones and short-range missiles to long-range missiles and modern aircraft.

Initial delivery operations already began in late August, where Ankara received an initial batch that included various types of "ALP" radars, several air defense batteries (such as Husar and Cyber), and electronic warfare equipment and systems, indicating the project's transition to practical implementation after years of planning.

Weichert states in his report that Turkey sees this project as a strategic necessity in light of the increasing unrest in the Middle East following the events of October 7, 2023, through which it aims to hedge against both conventional and unconventional threats.

The Turkish army also seeks to build a "joint aerial picture" using technologies based on networks that integrate data from sensors and threat detection to feed the unified backbone of command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. These networks utilize artificial intelligence to support decision-making and determine the best means to deal with threats in real-time.

However, the National Interest magazine points out that the Turkish project faces challenges related to system integration, ongoing upgrade costs, and the rapid evolution of modern threats such as hypersonic missiles and multiple drone attacks.

Nonetheless, Ankara believes the investment is necessary to enhance its regional influence and protect its airspace, in addition to opening the door for exporting comprehensive defense systems to markets seeking NATO-compatible solutions that are not subject to direct Western oversight.

Source: National Interest