Turkey’s Steel Dome initiative marks a pivotal shift towards autonomous, AI-driven defense in an increasingly multipolar world.
The way of war is changing. At the conventional level of conflict, parity is being reached between the great powers. As such, the world’s powers are seeking unconventional, asymmetric means to undermine the conventional technologies of each other’s arsenals.
As part of this trend, recognizing the real threat that missile and drone swarms pose to nations, there has been a great push for anti-air defensive capabilities. Israel, which faced this threat from Hamas long before the great powers did, successfully developed the Iron Dome. America is working on its own massive “Golden Dome”—a throwback to President Reagan’s fantastical “Star Wars” plans of the 1980s.
And Turkey, a rising power in its own right, has announced the “Çelik Kubbe,” the Steel Dome Initiative, to protect its own skies. Announced last August by the Turkish National Security Council, this program aims to create a “system of systems” that combines sensors, radars, interceptors, and artificial intelligence (AI) to detect and neutralize threats in real time.
Why Does Turkey Need a Dome, Anyway?
Unlike Israel’s Iron Dome, which focuses primarily on short-range rocket interception, Turkey’s Steel Dome is designed for total protection. In this way, it is more akin to the Golden Dome proposed by the Trump administration.
The Steel Dome project is meant to protect critical infrastructure, including ports, energy facilities, and the Akkuyu nuclear power plant. Coordinated by the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and involving key players such as Aselsan, Roketsan, TÜBİTAK SAGE, and MKE, the system emphasizes domestic production to reduce foreign dependency. As of mid-2025, significant progress has been made, with investments exceeding $616 million allocated to Aselsan for related facilities.
Steel Dome’s origins can be traced back to Turkey’s long-standing efforts to modernize its air defense capabilities. Turkey has historically relied on a mix of foreign systems, including Russia’s S-400, the US MIM-23 Hawk, and NATO assets. Geopolitical frictions, however, prompted Ankara to prioritize indigenous solutions.
Back in 2013, a real breakdown in US-Turkish defense ties occurred over Turkey’s desire to procure for itself a tranche of Patriot Missile batteries. At that time, the Russian military intervention on behalf of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad was in full swing, and the instability in neighboring Syria was risking Turkish territorial integrity. What’s more, Turkey has been worried about the Kurdish terrorism problem that it had grappled with since the 1970s—and was dismayed at US support for Kurdish fighters in Syria against the Islamic State (ISIS), given that they could reasonably be expected to turn their weapons on Ankara after the conflict’s end.
After the Obama administration overruled the Turks’ attempt to acquire the Patriots, Ankara sought out the Russian S-400. The Americans were horrified, as this would have interfered with Turkey’s interoperability with NATO’s defense architecture. A breakdown in relations ensued, and Turkey was ultimately restricted from acquiring a number of Western weapons systems—prompting the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to begin looking at total indigenization to support its overarching national security concerns.
The Steel Dome’s Three Layers, Explained
Development on the Steel Dome has accelerated rapidly. By early 2025, Aselsan announced expansions in production facilities, and the system was showcased at the IDEF 2025 defense exhibition, where new platforms were unveiled. The initiative builds on existing Turkish programs, like the Hisar and Siper missile families, integrating them into a network-centric architecture. AI plays a pivotal role, too, enabling predictive threat analysis and automated decision-making to enhance response times.
Projections indicate the system could be fully operational by the late 2020s or early 2030s, with ongoing tests and integrations addressing high-speed and stealth threats. At its core, the Steel Dome is a multi-layered defense shield, categorized by range and altitude to counter diverse threats:
- Short-Range, Low-Altitude Layer: Includes systems like the Korkut 35mm anti-aircraft gun and Sungur man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS). These are ideal for neutralizing drones and low-flying aircraft.
- Medium-Range Layer: Features the Hisar-A+ and Hisar-O+ missiles providing protection against medium-altitude threats. Naval variants like Hisar-OD extend this to maritime domains as well.
- Long-Range, High-Altitude Layer: Anchored by Turkey’s “Siper” missile defense system, with variants like Siper Ürün-2/3 (in development). This layer targets ballistic missiles and high-altitude aircraft.
Supporting these are advanced radars such as Eralp for long-range surveillance and the RADNET network, alongside electronic warfare tools like the Koral 200 mobile radar system and Ejderha anti-UAV jammer. The HAKİM command and control system, bolstered by AI, ensures seamless integration, creating a real-time Recognized Air Picture (RAP). Mobility is a key feature, allowing deployment across Turkey’s vast territory, from borders with Syria and Iran to the Aegean Sea.
Recent additions at IDEF 2025 include the GüRZ unmanned air defense system, Göksur naval launcher, and Cenk 4D AESA radar, enhancing versatility and export potential.
Strategically, the Steel Dome initiative bolsters Turkey’s sovereignty in defense matters, reducing reliance on allies and positioning Ankara as a key player in global arms markets. It enhances NATO interoperability while addressing regional threats, potentially contributing to alliance defenses. Export ambitions are high, with Aselsan eyeing co-production deals in the Gulf and Eastern Europe, aiming for the project to be 50 percent supported by international revenue by 2030.
The “Steel Dome” Still Has a Long Way to Go
Challenges persist, of course. As the Trump administration is discovering with its “Golden Dome” plans in the United States, Turkey’s large size makes airtight coverage difficult. The costs of doing so could strain budgets, too. Technological maturity for countering hypersonic threats remains a hurdle, and while domestic focus is emphasized, collaborations like seeking France’s SAMP/T system indicate that a fully domestic system is not possible to achieve—at least for now.
Turkey’s Steel Dome initiative marks a pivotal shift towards autonomous, AI-driven defense in an increasingly multipolar world. By integrating cutting-edge technologies and fostering innovation, it not only fortifies national security but also elevates Turkey’s global standing. As development progresses towards completion—speculated to take place by 2028, though this goal is extremely ambitious—the Steel Dome could redefine air defense strategies, inspiring similar projects worldwide.
For a nation at the crossroads of continents, this “steel shield” will soon provide the protection Turkey’s leadership desires.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert is a senior national security editor at The National Interest. Recently, Weichert became the host of The National Security Hour on America Outloud News and iHeartRadio, where he discusses national security policy every Wednesday at 8pm Eastern. He is also a contributor at Popular Mechanics and has consulted regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including The Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, The Asia Times, and others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.
Image: Shutterstock / Dancing_Man.
