ISTANBUL — The Turkish Ministry of Defense took the opportunity at the SAHA defense expo to reveal a new intercontinental missile with the a reported range of 6,000km (approximately 3,700 miles).
The large missile, dubbed Yildirimhan, was unveiled at the show on Tuesday, with state media outlet Anadolu reporting that in addition to the extremely long range (far enough to reach across Europe and deep into eastern Asia), it can reach up to Mach 25 on the power of four rocket engines.
Representatives at the Turkish MoD stand declined to discuss the missile at SAHA today, but analyst Ali Bakir said he believed Turkey’s ICBM program “is in an advance stage.”
“Given the emphasis on defense modernization, it is likely that progress has been prioritized,” Bakir, defense analyst and professor at Qatar University, told Breaking Defense. “Furthermore, the actual capabilities of the missile may exceed the publicly disclosed parameters, suggesting that Turkiye is advancing rapidly in its missile technology.”
Bakir said the ICBM would add a “crucial layer of deterrence” to Turkey’s military arsenal. The timing of the announcement was also no coincidence, he said. “[It] serves as a clear message to potential adversaries that Turkiye is prepared to defend its sovereignty and interests.”
Yildirimhan may have been the biggest, but it was hardly the only missile unveiled so far at SAHA.
In a ceremony attended by the minister of defense on Tuesday, national missile manufacturer Roketsan also unveiled four new missiles:
- The Cirit counter-UAS missile: A light weight, laser-guided munition with 5km range, which the company says is a cost-effective alternative to traditional air defense systems. The missile can be launched from mobile land-based vehicles.
- The Cida anti-tank system: A long-range missile equipped with a hybrid seeker that can be integrated on sea, land and air platforms. The company expects Cida to enter qualification stage and afterwards serial production during 2026.
- The Nester MAM: The latest edition to Turkey’s MAM smart micro munition family. The missile unveiled on the show floor has four long blades and is not equipped with a warhead or engine.
- The mini cruise missile: An airborne winged missile with 30kg warhead and 250km range. It has high explosives and blast fragmentation head. The compact-sized missile can be integrated on unmanned aerial vehicles due to its small dimensions and lighter weight. The company expects to test it on one of the national combat unmanned aerial vehicles this year.
Rocketsan CEO Murat Ikinci said in a statement that the company developed the systems “using national resources to meet operational field requirements in the most effective way.
“Drawing strength from our nation, we will continue to develop new technologies that strengthen our national defence and pave the way for a fully independent defence industry,” he said.
