Türkiye has reached a new milestone in its defense industry with the official announcement of the Tayfun ballistic missile’s 561-kilometer range. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan shared the news, underlining the strategic importance of this achievement for the country’s security. Successfully tested at Rize-Artvin Airport, the Tayfun missile demonstrated its advanced technology and operational effectiveness.

Ballistic missiles play a critical role on the battlefield due to their high speeds and unique flight path, which involves exiting the atmosphere and following a parabolic trajectory. This allows them to strike targets quickly and effectively. With a range of 561 kilometers, the Tayfun missile enhances Türkiye’s defensive posture along both its western and eastern borders, a development that has drawn significant attention—and concern—from neighboring countries such as Greece.

Defense industry researcher Anıl Şahin highlighted the significance of Tayfun, noting that while many regional states rely on foreign suppliers for such missile systems, Türkiye has developed Tayfun indigenously, thereby gaining a major strategic advantage. As the only missile of its kind in the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory, Tayfun represents a leap in both technological capability and military independence.

The unveiling of Tayfun’s extended range not only strengthens Türkiye’s military deterrence but also showcases the progress achieved in domestic defense technology. This success is viewed as an important step in consolidating Türkiye’s role as a rising power in both regional and global security dynamics.