Steel Dome and Next-Gen Indigenous Defense Systems Debut at EFES-2026 Exercise

The Steel Dome, Turkey’s homegrown air defense shield, along with new advanced indigenous defense platforms, made their operational debut during the EFES-2026 military exercises. Developed with major contributions from ASELSAN and ROKETSAN, these systems significantly enhanced the capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces.

Featuring advanced radar and missile technology, the Steel Dome quickly detects and neutralizes enemy aerial threats, demonstrating a sophisticated integrated air defense capability. The exercise validated the system’s real-time performance and multi-layered defensive potential, underscoring the sustainability of Turkey’s national air defense power.

In addition to the Steel Dome, new indigenous weapon systems, command-control software, and drone support technologies played an active role in the EFES-2026 exercise for the first time. These advancements aim to boost Turkey’s military operational effectiveness and strengthen its value in international defense collaborations.

Haluk Görgün, Head of the Presidency of Defense Industries, stated, “EFES-2026 served as a crucial platform to test Turkey’s national and indigenous defense technologies. The field integration of Steel Dome and other indigenous systems clearly demonstrates the Turkish Armed Forces’ transformation towards a multi-layered air defense architecture.”

These developments mark a significant stride for Turkey in reinforcing regional security balance, while continuing to open new avenues in technology transfers and global partnerships.