Türkiye has officially inducted its indigenous SİPER-1 long-range air defense system into the national Steel Dome (Çelik Kubbe) layered air and missile defense network, marking a major advancement in Ankara’s pursuit of air defense self-reliance. The integration significantly enhances Türkiye’s ability to counter high-altitude and long-range aerial threats, complementing existing domestically produced systems such as Hisar-A+ and Hisar-O+.
Developed under the coordination of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), the SİPER-1 program brings together leading Turkish defense firms ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, and TÜBİTAK SAGE. The system recently completed a successful battery-level acceptance test at the Sinop Test Center on the Black Sea, where it demonstrated the capability to detect, track, and intercept a high-speed, maneuvering airborne target in a dense and contested airspace environment.
Designed to engage a broad spectrum of aerial threats, SİPER-1 provides long-range protection against fighter aircraft, cruise missiles, and potentially unmanned aerial systems. Although official performance figures remain classified, open-source assessments suggest an engagement range approaching 100 kilometers, with coverage suitable for high-altitude air defense. More advanced variants with extended range and enhanced capabilities are already under development as part of Türkiye’s long-term SİPER roadmap.
Integration into the Steel Dome network allows SİPER-1 to operate seamlessly within Türkiye’s wider command-and-control architecture. The system leverages ASELSAN-developed engagement control software, mobile vertical launchers, and networked sensor fusion supported by the ADVENT combat management system, enabling 360-degree coverage and coordinated joint operations across land, naval, and air force units.
