The Turkish MoD’s R&D department has unveiled the YILDIRIMHAN ICBM with N2O4-UDMH-based liquid fuel propulsion during the SAHA EXPO 2026 defence exhibition.
The Turkish MoD’s R&D department (MSB Ar-Ge), responsible for weapon systems of various branches, has unveiled the YILDIRIMHAN ICBM with a range of 6000 km on the first day of the SAHA EXPO 2026 defence exhibition.
The ICBM is stated to use a N2O4-UDMH-based liquid fuel, also displayed by the Turkish MoD R&D alongside YILDIRIMHAN and its rocket engine.
YILDIRIMHAN can carry a three-tonnes conventional warhead, and its speed varies between Mach 9 and Mach 25. The exo-atmospheric manoeuvring is seen to be provided by nose-mounted thrusters per the video released by the MoD’s R&D department.
The launch platform for YILDIRIMHAN is a large trailer which can be towed by general-purpose trucks.
Hyunmoo V and Oreshnik Examples as Conventional Deterrence
While a conventionally armed missile with ranges along the line of ICBM regime sounds unusual, some of the recent large-sized ballistic missiles have been seen to be conventionally armed as well, for conventional deterrence rather than nuclear.
ROK’s Hyunmoo V, for example, is slightly heavier than the Minuteman III ICBM used by the US, but is rather fitted with an oversized warhead to strike North Korea’s underground facilities and other important installments in the event of a war.
On the other hand, Russia previously used the Oreshnik ballistic missile with conventionally armed MIRVs as a display against Ukraine during the war.
Considering the tensions in the Middle East, YILDIRIMHAN’s development could be regarded as a reaction, which is a missile that can attain high speeds at shorter ranges while having ICBM-level reach at maximum range, a form of conventional deterrence made up of a large payload and high speed, complementing the more mobile and quickly replenishable options like cruise missiles or SRBMs.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor:Özgür Ekşi
