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Turkish defense officials delivered 47 units of the Steel Dome integrated air defense system to the military while breaking ground on a massive $1.5 billion defense technology complex, marking what officials called the most significant single defense industry investment in the country's history.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attended the ceremony at Aselsan's Golbasi campus, where the Presidency of Defense Industry head Haluk Gorgun and Aselsan General Manager Ahmet Akyol outlined the scope of Türkiye's expanding defense capabilities.
The Steel Dome project represents an integrated air defense architecture that combines artificial intelligence with multiple defense systems to detect and neutralize airborne threats.
"The Steel Dome is a 'system of systems' that integrates defense air defense systems, where artificial intelligence is used intensively," Gorgun said.
"It will detect threats and attacks from the air at the earliest stage, then make cost-effective decisions through artificial intelligence and decision support mechanisms," he said.
Defense Minister Yasar Guler emphasized the system's strategic importance, stating: "The systems delivered under the Steel Dome Project, with their high mobility capabilities and operational skills, will further increase the deterrence and effectiveness of the Turkish Armed Forces and provide our security at the highest level."
Aselsan has announced the opening of 14 new facilities, which will increase production capacity by 40% and create approximately 4,000 new jobs. The company also broke ground on the Ogulbey Technology Base, spanning 6,500 acres and representing Europe's largest air defense facility.
"As a historic step, we are excitedly starting the investment worth $1.5 billion in our new Ogulbey campus of 6,500 acres," Akyol said during the ceremony.
The expansion comes as Aselsan experiences significant growth, becoming the most valuable company on Borsa Istanbul and signing $1.3 billion in export contracts in the first half of this year alone.
Officials highlighted a dramatic reversal in the flow of engineering talent, with more Turkish engineers returning from abroad than leaving.
"This year, the number of engineers coming to Aselsan from abroad reached exactly twice the number of those leaving abroad," Akyol said.
"This table is the most concrete example of how our youth embrace the National Technology Initiative," he noted.
Gorgun emphasized the sector's commitment to talent development: "We are accelerating the return of all our human assets and citizens who want to be part of the defense industry, contribute, and return to the homeland by providing an environment. Aselsan is one of our most preferred companies in these transformations."
He noted that approximately 98% of defense industry employees are graduates of Turkish universities, adding: "We need to plan the talents and competencies now to develop the technologies needed in the field we need. Within the framework of this planning, we need to work at every level of educational institutions with certain standards and programs that will prepare the competencies for those technologies needed."
Aselsan's capabilities gained international recognition when the company was selected as one of five firms to participate in NATO's air defense concept development competition.
"Türkiye was selected as one of the five countries. Aselsan was selected as one of the five companies. We proved our competence by being selected for NATO," Akyol explained.
The Steel Dome system incorporates indigenous data links and electronic warfare capabilities designed to protect against various threat types, including low-visibility aircraft and unmanned systems.
The defense expansion reflects Türkiye's growing export success in the defense sector. Aselsan has exported to 93 countries and signed $1.3 billion in export contracts in the first six months of this year, surpassing its total of $1 billion from the same period last year.
"We are among the 10 fastest-growing defense companies in the world for the last two years," Akyol noted, highlighting the company's transformation into what he called a "global technology giant."
Officials emphasized the Steel Dome's relevance in light of regional conflicts and evolving threats.
"Considering the recent conflicts and wars in our close geography, it has been much better understood how indispensable it is to have a strong and integrated air defense system in terms of national survival," Defense Minister Guler said.
The ceremony featured representatives from multiple government agencies and military leadership.
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