Turkey prepares to initiate large-scale production of the Tayfun Block-4 ballistic missile in 2026

In a significant milestone, Turkish defense company Aselsan has been selected as one of five companies worldwide in NATO's Air Defense System Architecture Competition. This recognition underscores Turkey's growing influence in the global defense industry.

Founded in an apartment with just four people, Aselsan has come a long way. Today, it produces critical technologies ranging from communications and radar to electro-optics and navigation systems. The company's first facility in Ankara's Yenimahalle district was funded by citizen donations collected in Sakarya province's town square, a testament to the public's support for the industry.

Aselsan's General Manager, Ahmet Akyol, attributes Turkey's defense industry achievements to a combination of forward-looking state policy, national stance, public support, and engineering expertise across all companies. The company's success story is echoed by Roketsan, another prominent Turkish defense company.

Roketsan, under the leadership of CEO Murat Ikinci, is making waves with its Tayfun missile, already in serial production and being delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces. The company is also developing the Tayfun Block-4 hypersonic ballistic missile, which is nearing its testing phase.

Turkey's defense export strategy focuses on capability transfer, including joint production and joint program development. This approach is evident in the ongoing investments in advanced technologies such as hypersonic systems, space technologies, submarine missile systems, advanced materials, and radar systems.

The Tayfun Block-4 hypersonic ballistic missile can maintain hypersonic velocity throughout flight and strike targets at speeds above Mach 5. This cutting-edge technology is a continuation of the Tayfun missile family, developed by Roketsan through internal research and development efforts.

Turkey is also leading the way in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology. The country is the world's first to develop a dedicated UAV carrier ship, with successful takeoff and landing operations already completed. Turkish UAVs can now deploy weapons ranging from laser-guided smart munitions to supersonic and cruise missiles, creating an attack capability portfolio unmatched globally.

Ahmet Akyol predicts that Turkey's Kizilelma unmanned combat aircraft will transform military operations through its swarm capabilities, low visibility profile, and operational concepts. The young engineering workforce in Turkey is expected to rapidly surpass countries that invested in defense industries much earlier.

Roketsan is also investing in unannounced projects in addition to announced ones. The company's founder, Ömer Lütfi Yolaç, played a crucial role in the initial stages, but the development of the Tayfun Block-4 Hypersonic Ballistic Missile is attributed to Roketsan's research and engineering team rather than a single individual.

Elements of Turkey's Steel Dome air defense system have been delivered to inventory, and nearly all missiles for the system are produced by Roketsan. The Tayfun missile family is expanding with different blocks, each designed for specific mission types, warhead configurations, and mission requirements.

Roketsan's CEO, Murat Ikinci, revealed that test firings of the Tayfun Block-4 missile system would occur soon, with serial production set to commence next year. This continued innovation and development are shaping Turkey's defense industry, positioning the country as a global leader in defense technology.