According to information obtained by an AA correspondent, the project, which was decided to be developed at the last Defense Industry Executive Committee meeting chaired by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, will “steel” the security perimeter in the sky.
The Steel Dome Project, which is described as a “system of systems” because it will bring together weapons of very different qualities and power, focused on cooperation between ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TÜBİTAK SAGE and MKE companies. The local and national systems developed by these companies will be integrated with each other by utilizing artificial intelligence.
In this context, air defense systems such as KORKUT, HİSAR-A+, GÖKDEMİR, GÖKER, GÖKBERK, HİSAR-O+ and SİPER developed by ASELSAN will be utilized. Steel Dome, which will host many air defense weapon systems, radars, electro-optic systems, communication modules, command control stations and artificial intelligence, will be Turkey’s guardian in the air defense field.
The KORKUT System to be used in the project was developed to effectively provide air defense for mechanized units with mobile elements.
The HİSAR A+ low-altitude air defense missile system fulfills the task of neutralizing air threats at low altitudes in order to provide air defense for mobile units.
The GÖKDEMİR Launch System aims to enable the use of nationally developed air-to-air missiles for land-based air defense purposes.
GÖKER was designed to meet current very low altitude air and land defense needs, to be deployed in fixed facilities and border areas.
GÖKBERK Mobile Laser Weapon System was developed with the support of radar, electro-optical sensors and radio frequency jammers.
HİSAR O+ medium altitude air defense missile system was produced to perform air defense missions against fixed units and critical facilities, fighter jets, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and air-to-ground missiles.
SİPER was also designed as a long-range regional air and missile defense system.
ROKETSAN in “Steel Dome” with air defense and missile systems
ROKETSAN, one of Turkey’s defense industry companies, will also take part in Çelik Dome with its laser system ALKA, which can neutralize mini/micro unmanned aerial vehicle swarms within a safe range, mobile air defense system BURÇ, air defense missile system SUNGUR, close-in air system LEVENT, air defense missile family HİSAR and long-range regional air defense system SİPER.
The ALKA Directed Energy Weapons System serves as a two-layered very close-in hybrid defense system that enables asymmetric threats to be blocked with electromagnetic jamming weapons and destroyed with laser weapons.
BURÇ Mobile Air Defense System, with its active and passive sensors, serves as a new generation air defense system that can produce cost-effective and optimized solutions by bringing together the dynamics required to engage against all current and future battlefield air threats.
SUNGUR Air Defense Missile System was designed to be used in short-range air defense of mobile/fixed units and facilities in the battlefield and rear area.
The LEVENT Close Air Defense Missile System was developed to neutralize aircraft, helicopters, UAVs/UCAVs, guided missiles that pose a threat to maritime elements and that can cruise close to the surface or at high altitude, with subsonic/supersonic speeds and low radar cross-section. The system is resistant to electronic attack and undertakes a mission against high amounts of guided missiles on surface platforms.
HİSAR Air Defense Missiles are used against fixed and rotary wing aircraft, cruise missiles, air-to-ground missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles to protect military bases, ports, facilities and troops from air threats.
The SİPER Long Range Regional Air and Missile Defense System ensures the survival of the units by limiting, delaying and neutralizing the enemy’s air-breathing target, cruise missile and air-to-ground munitions attacks. It also plays a deterrent role with its long range.
TÜBİTAK and MKE are also in the Steel Dome
In addition to ASELSAN and ROKETSAN’s domestic and national systems, TÜBİTAK and MKE will also strengthen the shield on the Steel Dome with their products.
TÜBİTAK SAGE carries out research, development, measurement, testing and communication activities including engineering and prototype production of systems. SAGE, which produces systems from SOM missiles to precision guidance kits, from BOZOK missiles to penetrating bombs, contributes to air defense with domestic and national missiles GÖKDOĞAN and BOZDOĞAN.
In addition, electronic systems such as the military-specific global positioning system KAŞİF, the GPS antenna, and the inertial measurement unit ATLAS play an active role in Turkey’s defense. The Steel Dome Project also plans to utilize systems produced by SAGE.
One of Turkey’s domestic weapons manufacturers, Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi AŞ, was also one of the organizations assigned to the Steel Dome.
MKE meets all kinds of weapons, ammunition, rockets, vehicles and equipment needs of the Turkish Armed Forces. In this context, technological products such as the Close Air Defense System and rocket systems developed by the company play a shield role in the defense of the country. These weapons are also expected to serve in the Steel Dome Project.
They will work in coordination with artificial intelligence
The local and national systems of Turkish companies that have started working on the Steel Dome Project will provide the creation of four critical opportunities.
Steel Dome, which will allow all sensors and weapons to work integrated with each other under a network with layered air defense systems, will pave the way for the creation of a common air picture. This information, which will be delivered to operation centers in real time, can be presented to decision-makers with the support of artificial intelligence.
In addition to the shield role it will provide in the sky, the project will also act as a deterrent to hostile elements.
