Overview

• President Recep Tayyip Erdogan marked the handover at Aselsan’s Ankara facilities, calling the milestone a turning point for national air defense.
• The initial package comprises 47 vehicles that form part of an integrated system linking sea- and land-based sensors and interceptors into a single network.
• Officials have not specified when the broader multi-layered system will reach full operational capability.
• The project is led by state-owned defense firms, reflecting Turkey’s drive to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers after the 2019 S-400 purchase strained ties with the U.S.-led F-35 program.
• Erdogan also launched a $1.5 billion defense technology campus, with the first facility expected to open by mid-2026.