Turkey speeds up its multi-layered 'Steel Dome' air defense project

Turkey is accelerating its ambitious “Steel Dome” air defense program, a multi-layered shield inspired by Israel and the United States. Defense electronics giant Aselsan has allocated about $900 million for advanced interception technologies, as Ankara seeks to secure its airspace against evolving threats across its borders and the Mediterranean region. Professional reports cited in the article describe it as the largest defense project in Europe today.

The system is meant to combine several layers of protection under one operational umbrella, including defenses against drones and small UAVs, short-range and long-range air defense systems, and tools to counter cruise missiles and drone swarms. Researchers at the TRENDS research institute in Abu Dhabi said Turkey has decided to speed up the replacement of its outdated air defense systems through this project. Officials in Ankara view it as a necessary response to strategic and even existential threats, informed by lessons from recent conflicts.

Regional tensions are also pushing the project forward. Turkish officials are concerned by closer security ties between Greece, Israel, and European states, as well as by military assets stationed in Cyprus, which Ankara sees as added pressure on Turkey. Aselsan is leading the program after signing a separate $1.9 billion contract in 2025 with the government Directorate of Defense Industries, and the new $900 million investment is part of the wider plan. The article also notes that Turkey hosts Hamas activity, as recently revealed by the Shin Bet.

Aselsan says foreign interest is growing as well, especially from Gulf states after Iranian attacks on countries in the region in recent months. Those states have reportedly asked about short-range air defense systems and counter-drone technologies. Main system deliveries are expected only after 2028, although some components may be available earlier.