Turkey has finalized a 1.6-billion-euro ($1.9 billion) agreement with Aselsan to provide the nation’s armed forces with advanced air defense systems. Deliveries under the program are scheduled between 2027 and 2031, making it one of Turkey’s largest long-term defense modernization projects.
The contract is part of Ankara’s “Steel Dome” initiative, an ambitious effort to establish an indigenous air and missile defense shield for the country. Aselsan, recently appointed as the lead contractor for the program, is expected to play a central role in strengthening Turkey’s defense autonomy and industrial base.
This move comes in response to challenges Turkey has faced in acquiring Western defense technology, particularly after its controversial procurement of Russia’s S-400 system in 2017, which strained ties with NATO allies. By investing in its own systems, Ankara aims to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers and increase its competitiveness in the global defense export market.
Earlier in 2025, the Turkish government allocated $1.5 billion to set up a dedicated production hub for the Steel Dome project, described as the largest air defense facility in Europe. Aselsan has already begun supplying components, with 47 key elements delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in August, laying the groundwork for the full-scale rollout of the initiative.
