US$6.5 Billion Mega Contract for The Steel Dome Integrated Air Defence System
Contracts worth US$6.5 billion were signed between the Secretariat of Defence Industries and the relevant defence companies to strengthen the integrated air defence system Steel Dome (Çelik Kubbe). The “Air Defence and Missile Systems Signing Ceremony,” organized under the coordination of the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB) to launch strategic projects that will reinforce Türkiye’s Steel Dome (Çelik Kubbe), was held with the participation of leading representatives of the sector.
Hosted by HAVELSAN on 25 November, the ceremony was attended by SSB President Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, SSB Vice President Hüseyin Avşar, Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol, Roketsan CEO Murat İkinci, as well as representatives from the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) and the defence sector. The projects to be carried out under the contracts signed in coordination with SSB amount to approximately US$6.5 billion.
In his speech at the ceremony, Haluk Görgün stated that the processes for transforming the decisions taken by the Defence Industry Executive Committee (SSİK) into contracts were being carried out meticulously. Reminding that the latest committee meeting resulted in key decisions concerning the procurement of offensive systems and air defence systems, Görgün said: “In this process, in addition to the air defence systems previously developed, produced and delivered by our companies Roketsan and Aselsan, we have today signed contracts regarding Roketsan’s offensive systems already in service and their advanced variants. Our companies continue working tirelessly to improve and develop existing systems, enhance their effectiveness, and strengthen the deterrent capabilities of our heroic armed forces.”
Touching also on the concept of Steel Dome within air defence doctrine and the indigeneity of the systems, Görgün offered the following assessment: “Thanks to the Steel Dome, we are now able to indigenously produce both the subsystems of the layered air defence architecture that has been evolving since the past as well as the software and hardware capable of operating these systems in an integrated network. We are pleased to have signed the serial production contracts for offensive systems that will bolster our deterrence and to see the continuation of efforts to extend their range and operational effectiveness.”
Aselsan CEO Ahmet Akyol also underlined the strategic significance of the agreements for the country. Akyol said, “Today we witnessed truly strategic signings for our nation. We have signed agreements for the large-scale production of our air defence systems.”
Roketsan CEO Murat İkinci added: “With today’s signing ceremony, we have launched numerous projects that will significantly contribute to the strategic strength of our Armed Forces. From space systems to air defence systems, from anti-tank systems to strategic systems, we have signed serial production contracts for many programs.”
