Iran’s hypersonic missiles breaching Israel’s air shield after retaliating for an Israeli strike has made layered defence Türkiye’s new strategic priority.
Iran’s large-scale missile retaliation against Israel, involving hypersonic systems that reportedly penetrated Israel’s multi-layered air defence network, has prompted Türkiye to elevate missile and air defence to the top of its national security agenda.
The NATO Leaders’ Summit held in The Hague was dominated by the rising need for defence spending triggered by Russia’s war on Ukraine and Iran’s missile capabilities, which pierced through Israel’s air defence shield.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressing reporters after the summit, confirmed that Türkiye is accelerating efforts to develop a domestic, multi-tiered “system of systems” for air defence. While discussions with U.S. President Donald Trump on rejoining the F-35 fighter jet programme took place, Erdoğan clarified that the Russian S-400 system was not part of their bilateral talks.
“Air defence does not begin and end with the S-400. Our public now clearly sees the need for a layered structure,” Erdoğan stated. “We are constructing our own version of a steel dome. This requires harmonised missile systems at various altitudes, working like the organs of a single body.”
He cited Türkiye’s indigenous platforms—SİPER, HİSAR, KORKUT and SUNGUR—as core elements of this architecture, supported by national sensor suites and electronic warfare systems. “We have made progress, but we are not content. We must increase our missile capabilities and complete this ecosystem,” he added.
Sources from the Ministry of National Defence (MoD) confirmed a formal shift in defence investment priorities. “We aim to expand a layered air and missile defence network nationwide under the Çelik Kubbe (Steel Dome) concept,” a source said. “We are simultaneously investing in hypersonic, ballistic and cruise missile technologies, unmanned systems across all domains, and advanced naval platforms such as next-generation aircraft carrier and frigates.”
Although the ministry did not explicitly reference Iran’s recent attack, the implications were clear. TurDef estimates that Iran launched over 1,300 missiles—including hypersonic variants—during its offensive against Israel. The strike exposed vulnerabilities in Israel’s otherwise robust air defence architecture and reignited debate across NATO capitals about high-end missile threats.
On the subject of the F-35, Erdoğan reiterated Türkiye’s longstanding position. “We are engaging our counterparts on rejoining the programme. Our removal was unjust and inconsistent with alliance principles. There have been more technical talks, and I think things will move forward.
One of the most important things that came out of the summit was that all NATO members agreed to slowly boost their defence expenditure from the long-standing 2% of GDP level to 5% over the following ten years. While some allies voiced concern, Türkiye endorsed the shift.
“Türkiye already exceeds the 2% threshold,” the MoD source noted. “We are among the top five contributors to NATO operations and missions. As the second-largest army in the Alliance, we have fulfilled all assigned capability targets and will continue investing in our defence sector and R&D ecosystem.”
The source also reaffirmed Türkiye’s alignment with Article 3 of the Washington Treaty. “We maintain constant readiness and remain a responsible and reliable NATO member, fully committed to our obligations,” the source concluded.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
