Turkey Unveils First Intercontinental Ballistic Missile System

Turkiye Unveils Prototype of Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

Turkiye has unveiled a prototype of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) at the SAHA 2026 Defence and Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul. The ICBM, named Yildirimhan, meaning “lightning” in Turkish, is part of Turkie’s efforts to become self-reliant in defence and gain a foothold as a key player in regional and NATO defence.

The Yildirimhan has a range of 6,000km (3,278 miles), exceeding the 5,500km threshold that classifies it as an ICBM. According to the Federation of American Scientists, ballistic missiles with this range can hit targets across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The missile’s maximum speed is Mach 25, which is 25 times the speed of sound.

The Yildirimhan has four rocket propulsion engines and is fuelled by liquid nitrogen tetroxide. Its warhead has a payload capacity of 3,000kg. Turkie has not yet begun production of the missile.

Defence Minister Yasar Guler stated that Turkie offers its allies not only weapon systems but also technology and a sustainable security economy. Experts say the launch of a Turkish ICBM is significant for several reasons.

Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, regional director at the German Marshall Fund of the United States think tank, noted that Turkie does not need ICBMs to deter any immediate security threat it faces. Instead, the capability to produce it is significant.

Burak Yildirim, an Istanbul-based security and defence analyst, stated that the design of an ICBM can indirectly benefit Turkie’s civilian space launch efforts, such as the Delta-V programme. Ali Bakir, a senior nonresident fellow at the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, described the prototype as a breakthrough for Ankara, symbolizing a leap in missile capabilities and technological advancement.

The unveiling of the new missile comes amid serious tensions in the Middle East, including ongoing conflicts between Iran and Israel, and naval battles in the Gulf.

Source: Al Jazeera