Turkey has recently unveiled the Tayfun Block-4 hypersonic missile and the 'Steel Dome' project. Erdogan says that this defense system is a symbol of Turkey's strength and self-reliance.

India has successfully tested the Agni-5 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). This has affected not only Asia but also the global strategic balance. This test has also put Turkey in tension, because its striking power is so much that Turkey has also come under its range. Turkish media debated extensively on this topic and called it a direct threat to the country's security. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in this context that any country that cannot develop its own radar and air defense system cannot look to its future with confidence in the face of the current security challenges. This statement clearly indicates that Turkey is now working towards increasing its dependence on a completely indigenous defense system.

In the last week of July 2025, Turkey unveiled its first hypersonic ballistic missile Tayfun Block-4. It has been developed by Turkey's state-owned defense company Roketsan. This missile can strike accurately at a distance of up to 280 kilometers. Its specialty is that it is capable of targeting air defense systems, command centers and sensitive military bases. Apart from this, it can be guided by satellite-based navigation system, which increases its accuracy even more. Through this technology, Turkey wants to give the message that it will no longer depend only on conventional weapons, but is also ready to compete in modern missile technology.

Steel Dome Turkey's Air Defense Project

In August 2022, Erdogan's government announced the Steel Dome project. Its aim is to create a network that can protect Turkey by connecting sea and land-based air defense platforms and sensors. Recently, Erdogan unveiled a new phase of this project, which includes 47 vehicles and about $ 460 million has been spent on them. Erdogan said that this system will create confidence in our friends and fear in enemies. However, it has not been clarified yet when the Steel Dome will be fully operational.

The changing landscape of Turkey's defense strategy

India's Agni-5 missile test has forced Turkey to think about where it stands in global geopolitics. Despite being a member of NATO, Turkey has always insisted on making its defense system independent and self-reliant. Projects like Tayfun Block-4 and Steel Dome are symbols of the fact that Turkey wants to strengthen its security capabilities not only regionally but also globally.