ASELSAN, a flagship Turkish defense contractor, announced it will accelerate component deliveries for the Steel Dome integrated air defense system by 50 percent in 2026. Speaking at the SAHA 2026 International Defense and Aerospace Exhibition in Istanbul, ASELSAN General Manager Ahmet Akyol stated the company targets delivering more than 150 different components this year. The acceleration marks a critical phase in Turkey's strategy to strengthen regional defense capabilities through indigenous systems.

Components supplied by ASELSAN for the Steel Dome include early warning radars, electronic warfare and defense systems, and missile payloads. These components, which will constitute approximately one-third of the company's portfolio, form the foundational building blocks of Turkey's multilayered air defense architecture. The Steel Dome envisions integration of domestically developed missile batteries, radars, electro-optical sensors, communications modules, and command-and-control centers. The system aims to provide integrated protection against low, medium, and high-altitude threats through land-based and sea-based air defense platforms and sensors developed domestically.

Turkey signed contracts valued at $6.5 billion (TL 293.95 billion) last year to strengthen and develop the Steel Dome architecture. ASELSAN secured $3.2 billion worth of these contracts. The Steel Dome initiative, announced in July 2024, represents a concrete manifestation of Turkey's vision to reduce dependence on external suppliers. As a NATO member, the project is designed to address Turkey's regional security requirements through entirely indigenous technology and capabilities, reflecting the country's commitment to defense self-sufficiency.

In the global defense sector, multilayered air defense systems are widely deployed across NATO-standard and technologically advanced nations. Systems such as the U.S. THAAD, Patriot air defense system, and Europe's NASAMS provide protection against low, medium, and high-altitude threats using comparable architectures. The Steel Dome, designed in accordance with these global standards, is customized to Turkey's specific technological capabilities and operational requirements, ensuring compatibility with NATO frameworks while leveraging indigenous expertise.

ASELSAN General Manager Akyol emphasized the company's goal to accelerate export-oriented growth in 2026. ASELSAN has risen to become the most valuable company on the Istanbul Stock Exchange, reaching a market capitalization of TL 2 trillion. Akyol noted that Steel Dome components form the backbone of Turkey's indigenously equipped naval fleet, with more than 40 ships currently under construction. ASELSAN serves as a supplier to shipyards in Asia and Europe, with cooperation expected to increase in coming years.

Turkey's defense exports grew approximately 48 percent year-over-year in 2025, reaching a record exceeding $10 billion. The official target is to lift this figure to $11 billion, positioning Turkey among the world's top 10 defense exporters. The development and production of integrated systems like the Steel Dome are viewed as key to achieving this objective and strengthening Turkish defense industry's position in the global market.