Türkiye has formally inducted the indigenous SİPER-1 long-range air defense system into its Steel Dome layered air and missile defense architecture. The move significantly expands Ankara’s high-altitude and long-range interception capability while reinforcing its goal of defense sovereignty.

The system, developed under the leadership of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) in collaboration with ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, and TÜBİTAK SAGE, completed its battery-level acceptance test at the Sinop Test Center on the Black Sea. During the live-fire evaluation, SİPER-1 demonstrated its ability to detect, track, and intercept a high-speed maneuvering airborne target within a complex air environment. The presence of multiple friendly and adversary aircraft signatures during the trial simulated battlefield conditions and validated the system’s operational maturity.

SİPER-1 is engineered to provide long-range engagement against a variety of threats, including fixed-wing aircraft, cruise missiles, and potentially UAV swarms. While Türkiye has not officially disclosed its precise performance parameters, open-source reporting suggests that the initial production variant of SİPER is capable of intercepting targets at ranges approaching 100 kilometers, with altitude coverage suitable for high-altitude airspace protection. Longer-range and more capable variants are currently in development under the ongoing SİPER project roadmap.

The system includes a domestically developed interceptor missile believed to incorporate a two-stage solid-fuel propulsion system and an active radar homing seeker. Its integration into Türkiye’s broader command-and-control ecosystem is facilitated by advanced engagement control software and fire distribution systems engineered by ASELSAN, allowing multiple simultaneous engagements and full 360-degree coverage. Vertical launchers are mounted on mobile wheeled platforms, enabling rapid deployment and repositioning as operational demands evolve.