DEFENSE NEWS - The "Iron Dome" project of Türkiye

"Iron Dome" is the name given to the lower-tier base of the IMDO air defense system, gradually deployed by the Israeli state after the Gulf War in 1991.

The Israeli lower-tier base has been operational since 2011 and has been tested almost daily since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, particularly for intercepting and destroying short-range rockets, such as the Katyusha, and longer-range 122mm rockets fired by Hezbollah.

The Israeli "Iron Dome" is, strictly speaking, only the first level of ground-based protection. The Turkish "Steel Dome" (Çelik Kubbe) project, on the other hand, aims to integrate layered air defense systems*, sensors, and other weapon systems into a network both at sea and on land. According to Turkish authorities, this is a true "system of systems" designed to provide real-time air situational awareness (Recognized Air Picture, RAP) to operations centers and decision-makers, enhanced by artificial intelligence.

The "Steel Dome" will take into account existing air security systems, particularly in Ankara and the Bosporus and Dardanelles Straits, and address new needs such as protecting the Akkuyu nuclear power plant.

The decision to launch the "Steel Dome" project was made on August 6, 2024, by the Defense Industry Executive Committee (SSİK). Political statements following this decision clarified that the project would be carried out in a "local and national" manner, meaning that the design and manufacture of the equipment will be entirely in Türkiye by Turkish companies. Major players involved in the project, ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, TÜBİTAK SAGE, and MKE, rely on local subcontractors, but foreign suppliers may be called upon if necessary, with minimal visibility to highlight the Turkish identity of the equipment.

Turkish-made air defense systems necessary for the "Steel Dome" project are already in service or under development.

Regarding the weapons:

- Short-range low altitude systems (range < 5 km):

• Guns: KORKUT (35 mm) and its naval version GÖKDENİZ (same caliber), already in service. They are complemented by foreign-made, older-generation equipment in service or in reserve: BOFORS L-60/70/70T/M1A1 (40 mm), OERLIKON GAI-D01 (2 X 20 mm), OERLIKON GDF-001/003 (2 X 35 mm), M42A1 DUSTER (40 mm), M55 (12.7 mm), and RHEINMETALL MK-20 RH-202 (2 X 20 mm). Under development: the C-RAM (Counter Rocket, Artillery, and Mortar) version of KORKUT, BURÇ (30 mm), GÜRZ (35 mm), and GÖKER (35 mm);
• Missiles: HİSAR-A+ in standalone or towed versions, HİSAR ManPADS, and its integrated vehicle version SUNGUR on the BMC VURAN 4X4. These are already in service. Foreign-made equipment in the same category operational in Turkish armed forces includes the STINGER ManPADS, STINGER ATILGAN (mounted on M113), STINGER ZIPKIN (mounted on Land Rover Defender 130), RAPIER MK.2B, and FIM-43 REDEYE. Under development for the Navy: GÖKSUR and LEVENT;

- Medium altitude medium range systems (range < 20 km): HİSAR-O+ missile, which has a naval version (HİSAR-OD). These are already in service. In the same category, the MIM-23 HAWK / HAWK XXI transferred to Türkiye under U.S. SRA (Southern Region Aid) are still operational. Under development: GÖKDEMİR. The short-range air-to-air missile GÖKDOĞAN (infrared seeker) and the medium-range air-to-air missile BOZDOĞAN (RF seeker, similar to the Israeli TAMIR missile) could be adapted to HİSAR-A and HİSAR-O systems;

- High altitude long-range systems (range > 20 km): HİSAR-U/SİPER Ürün** -1, 2, and 3 missiles, with the first (1) delivered to the forces, and the following (2 and 3) still under development. Given the potential risks of friendly-fire*** from the S-400 purchased from Russia, Türkiye still relies on its MIM-14 NIKE HERCULES or the NATO systems in place under NATO Support to Türkiye – NS2T.

Additionally, the list includes HİSAR-G/G+, which would be a HİSAR system using the air-to-air GÖKTUĞ munitions.

Regarding radars:

• The long-range surveillance radar ERALP and the MAR (Mobil Arama Radarı, mobile search radar, vehicle-mounted) are in service.
• The acquisition radar KALKAN is in service.
• The fire control radar AKR, on land or on a boat (version D), is in service.

The Turkish defense industry also develops most of the components necessary for the "Steel Dome": the satellite positioning system (GNSS) KAŞİF, the KKS antenna (GPS), and the inertial measurement unit ATLAS. Additionally, the Turkish Armed Forces' cloud computing system project (TSK Bulut Bilişim Sistemi Projesi) was launched on December 5, 2024, which will be a crucial infrastructure for the "Steel Dome."

The General Director of ROKETSAN stated that the "Steel Dome" will protect "the entirety of Türkiye from future air threats."**** However, this statement lacks details on the permanent deployment of the system, raising several questions.

First, Israel, smaller in size than Türkiye, would have at least 10 Iron Domes for lower-level protection. Although higher numbers are sometimes cited, it’s clear that they do not account for projectiles hitting uninhabited areas. France itself would not be able to fully protect its entire territory. During high air threat situations, such as during large events, special security systems (DPSA) are implemented, which temporarily tighten the aerial protection net around sensitive areas. Other countries have shelters that can protect populations in the event of an air attack. Therefore, a permanent, fully airtight protection of Turkish territory would require an operational contract nearly impossible to maintain by the armed forces, or it would come at the cost of significant capability gaps.

Next, the Israeli "Iron Dome" is not entirely infallible. For example, it did not prevent the Hezbollah attack on a military base in Binyamina, northern Israel, on October 13, 2024, which resulted in four fatalities and dozens of injuries. This is why the "Iron Beam" laser project was developed to intercept and destroy drones and Quassam-type rockets used by Hamas more efficiently. Aware of this need, Türkiye has launched similar laser programs, ALKA and GÖKBERK, to complement its "Steel Dome" project.

Cost will be a significant variable. Reports suggest that a shot from the Israeli "Iron Dome" costs over $10,000, and a TAMIR missile costs around $50,000. Hence, Türkiye will need to later export its "Steel Dome" to allied and friendly countries, as announced by the General Director of ASELSAN.*****

Finally, the Israeli air defense system operates with support from the United States. Although Türkiye is determined to achieve independence from external sources, it does not have an unlimited budget and has not yet reached full technological maturity to develop high-performance technologies capable of neutralizing targets flying at very high speeds (close to 8 km/s). It will be up to the SSİK to determine the priorities for research and weapon programs and make the necessary decisions in due course.

* Or "layered": taking into account the different distances and altitudes of threats.

** Ürün means "product." Announced ranges: 100 km for Ürün-1 and 150 km for Ürün-2.

*** It is vital that the S-400 does not identify a Turkish or allied aircraft as an enemy using its A2/AD (Anti-Access/Area-Denial) capabilities, which is why it is necessary to reprogram the IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) of the system according to Türkiye's threat perception using the National Threat Data Bank and through national and NATO algorithms.

****"Secondly, expressing that the Iron Dome is a system that will protect all of Türkiye from aerial threats..." and "The Iron Dome refers to an air defense system that will protect all of Türkiye from aerial threats..." (source: C4 Defence).

*****"ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol stated that in cooperation with ROKETSAN and TÜBİTAK SAGE, they aim to implement the domestically produced air defense system, the Iron Dome, not only in Türkiye but also in friendly and allied countries" (source: AA).

Article written by Patrice MOYEUVRE, General Officer in 2s of the French Air and Space Force, researcher at IRIS and Director of defense and security projects within Advantis.