Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country aims to soon acquire its own multi-layered Steel Dome air defense system, adding that Ankara would also increase its long-range missile capabilities.
NATO member Turkey has significantly reduced its dependence on external suppliers of defense equipment in recent years. It has become a leading manufacturer of armed drones for the global market and produces much of its own defense requirements at home.
Speaking at a ceremony in Ankara to inaugurate the home-made Gokbey helicopter for use by the gendarmerie at the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TUSAS) headquarters, which was the target of a deadly attack by militants Kurds last week, Erdogan compared the Steel Dome to that of Israel. famous Iron Dome.
It is now better understood how vitally important our multi-layered air defense systems are to our security. If they [Israel] If we have an Iron Dome, we will have a Steel Dome. We will not review them and say why we are not doing so, Erdogan said, without giving a specific timetable.
We will also increase our long-range missile capabilities during this period, he added, asserting that Turkey would not rest until it achieves full independence in the defense industry .
Israel's Iron Dome air defense system was built to intercept rockets fired into its territory. It became operational in 2011 and uses truck-towed radar-guided missile units to blast short-range threats such as rockets, mortars and drones in flight.
It also deployed a naval version of Iron Dome in 2017 to protect ships and maritime assets.
The system determines whether a rocket is on track to hit a populated area; otherwise, the rocket is ignored and allowed to land safely.
The United States imposed sanctions on Turkey's defense industry in December 2020 following its NATO ally's acquisition of the Russian S-400 missile defense system. He also excluded Ankara from the F-35 stealth fighter jet program, of which he was a manufacturer and buyer. [Reuters]
